Douglas H Orchard

Douglas H Orchard, was born March 25th, 1945 in Roswell, NM. Though there have been many stories shared that aliens left Doug and his twin brother Dennis behind, in actuality they were born a couple of years before the aliens landed. They moved to Idaho Falls when he was 4 years and then to Pocatello.

While growing up in Pocatello, Doug excelled in a variety of athletic activities including baseball, basketball and track. He always remembered the many homeruns he hit over the railroad tracks near Ross Park. He was the short stop on the team and had the most homeruns. Doug also ran track in high school as he continued his dad’s legacy who qualified for the Olympics. When he was sixteen his mother found him a job working on the railroad near Boise and he continued to work for the railroad every summer through high school.

After graduating from Pocatello High, he went on to college for a year. Well sort of…by his description, he paid for college for a year and then played a lot of pool in the student union. Did you know he was great at billiards?

In 1964 he was called to serve a mission in the French Riviera for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. When he went on his mission, there wasn’t a foreign language training program at the MTC, so he arrived a bit unprepared. On his first day in the country, he was chased by a dog. He knew the dog didn’t understand English, so he just yelled out “merci, merci!” because that was the only word he knew in French. After serving as a missionary for two and a half years he was able to explore Europe on his own. One of the conductors saw him and escorted him off the train, speaking to him only in German, Doug did not understand why he was kicked off the train. While standing on the platform, a little confused, he later realized this particular train was bound for East Germany.

After he returned from his mission he worked as a “Gandy Dancer” for the railroad. That summer he met DeeAnn Sappington. He was immediately smitten, and after asking her to marry him several times, she finally said yes. They were married in the Salt Lake Temple on June 20th, 1969. He always knew she was his greatest achievement.

After they got married, he graduated from BYU and then went on to Medical School in Guadalajara, Mexico. During their 2 years in Mexico, Doug learned the language, studied medicine, had their first son and was interviewed by Russell M. Nelson to call him as the Branch President. He moved to Los Angeles and graduated from medical school from the University of Southern California in 1977. They moved back to Idaho where he completed a Family Practice Residency and opened a private practice in downtown Boise. He had thousands of patients in the Treasure Valley. He had a classic general practice which included pediatrics, minor surgeries, delivering hundreds of babies (including some of his own kids), and more.

After about 15 years in private practice, he worked for Primary Health and later for Saint Alphonsus. He loved his patient’s just like family and that feeling was often reciprocated. Even when some of them moved away, they’d travel back to town just to see him. He used to trade his physician services for a turkey for Thanksgiving dinner or a quart of wood for the winter. Doug would take the time for each patient and made diagnosis that saved many lives including one of his sons.

Doug and DeeAnn have 5 children, Doug, David, Dan, Danielle, and Deena. Luckily, they only had 5 kids, because they were running out of “D” names somewhere in the middle.

He played basketball, golf and went backpacking into his 60s as he enjoyed the competition and an excuse to be together with friends and family. He had a great shot from the top of the key and a fade away that couldn’t be blocked. He loved to play golf with his buddies and his sons, especially at Quail Hallow. The lucky guy even had a hole-in-one once at Ponderosa Golf Course in Burley. He went often to the Sawtooths to be closer to nature and his Heavenly Father.

He had a strong testimony of the gospel and was active in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in multiple roles that include Bishop, Elders Quorum President, Stake Athletic Director, and numerous other positions.

He was devoted to his kids and taught us to stay young at heart and tenaciously follow our dreams. He is survived by his wife DeeAnn, his kids Doug (wife Katrina), David (wife Emily), Dan (wife Annie), Danielle, Deena (husband Zach), and siblings: Sandra, Dennis (wife Linda), Mike (wife Kim), and Candy. His oldest brother Joe died while he was on his mission. His parents, Betty Jean Cunnington and Joe Orchard, are deceased. He has 12 living grandchildren and 1 deceased granddaughter.

Farewell to a great man and mentor. You will be thought of fondly for many years to come.

A special thank you to Idaho Home Health Hospice, in particularly Roberta and Jessica, who treated him with respect and took such great care of him in the end.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, March 8, 2019 in the Eagle Stake Center of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, located at 2090 N Eagle Rd., Eagle. A viewing will be held on Friday morning from 10:00-10:45 a.m. at the church prior to the services. Family will also greet friends from 6:30-8:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 7, 2019 at Relyea Funeral Chapel, 318 N. Latah St., Boise. Burial will follow the funeral service in the Dry Creek Cemetery.