William Caspers, 77

Fr. William Caspers, 77, died on Dec. 12, 2003, at his home in Mountain Home.

Memorial services will be held on Saturday, Dec. 20, at 10 a.m., at the Liberty Chapel on Mountain Home Air Force Base. Burial will be on Saturday, Dec. 27, at the Catholic Cemetery in Ogema, Minn., with military honors. Arrangements are under the direction of Summers Funeral Home in Mountain Home.

Fr. Caspers was born on June 16, 1926, in Ogema, Minn., to Margaret and Lawrence Caspers.

He entered the Assumption College and Abbey in Richardton, N.D., in 1945 and received degrees in economics, philosophy, and chemistry. He then attended St. Benedict's College in Atcheson, Kan., and was ordained on June 7, 1954.

He returned to the Assumption Abbey in 1954 and served as Dean of Studies, and then as President of Assumption College and Abbey until 1966.

In 1966 he received permission to join the United States Air Force as a chaplain. His assignments for the next 20 years took him to Arizona, the Philippines, New Mexico, Vietnam, North Dakota, Alaska, Colorado, Wyoming, England and Mountain Home, where he retired as a lieutenant colonel in 1986. He received several distinguished medals, including the Bronze Star.

After his retirement from the Air Force he returned to the Diocese of Cheyenne, Wyo., and accepted an assignment as Pastor of St. Louis Church in Glenrock from 1986 to 1987. He was then assigned as Pastor of Our Lady of Peace Church in Pinedale from 1987 to 1989.

He retired on May 2, 1989, and returned to Mountain Home. He was recalled to the diocese of Cheyenne in 1993 and served as Pastor of St. Anthony's Church in Guernsey from 1993 to 1996 and Pastor of St. Francis Church in Thermopolis from 1996 to 1999. He retired again on July 6, 1999, and again returned to Mountain Home.

When back in Idaho he fostered many friendships in northern Idaho and in 2001 he accepted a position as visiting priest till 2003.

He was again asked to return for another assignment in the diocese of Cheyenne and on July 1, 2003 he returned as Pastor of Holy Rosary Church in Lander, Wyo. Due to illness he had to relinquish his responsibilities and returned to Mountain Home one more time on Oct. 16, 2003.

He especially enjoyed being in the outdoors, fishing, hunting and being with his many friends.

He is survived by: a brother, Valerian Caspers of Ogema, Minn., and a sister, Alvina Meyers of Detroit Lakes, Minn., and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Amor Caspers and Gilbert Caspers, and a sister, Olivia Chapman.

In lieu of flowers, friends may make donations to his favorite Idaho charities: Blue Mountain Academy, PO Box 2109, Lewiston, Idaho 83501, or Summit Academy, P.O. Box 427, Cottonwood, Idaho 83522.