Charles "Chuck" Coverton Ryerse passed away peacefully on the morning of October 4, 2023, in Bountiful, Utah. Chuck was born October 15, 1930, in Las Vegas, Nevada to Coverton (Cub) and Alice Ryerse. He was the younger of two children. Chuck is preceded in death by his wife Carol, his daughter Tracy, and his sister Catherine. He is survived by his children: Dan and his wife Sue (Bountiful, UT), Rick and his wife Nancy (Meridian, ID), his son-in-law Raymond (Whitehall, MT), his daughter Kelly (Nampa, ID), and Parry and his wife Shannon (Nampa, ID). Additionally, Chuck has 26 grandchildren, 35 great grandchildren, and 1 great-great grandchild who love and respect him tremendously.

Chuck spent his childhood in Las Vegas, which had a population of only about 5,000 people. Chuck and his childhood friends had a vast desert to explore and employ as their playground and he often spoke of the fun times he had growing up. Chuck graduated from Las Vegas High School in 1948 and was known as a good student and an outstanding basketball player. Although the population had quadrupled during his childhood, Chuck still had to leave Las Vegas to attend the University of Nevada located in Reno (Las Vegas did not have a university until 1957). While in Reno, Chuck married his wife Carol, on the 6th of November 1952 and he successfully completed his Bachelor's degree in June of 1953. Chuck and Carol enjoyed a long, strong marriage of over 70 years. It was a fine example of a blending of head and heart into a single focus and purpose. The newlyweds spent a few years in Las Vegas and California, but ultimately returned to Reno as a young family to establish their household and to begin Chuck's career as a schoolteacher.

Chuck had nearly a twenty-year career in education. The majority of his time was spent at Reno High School where he taught math and coached basketball. Chuck was always a dedicated teacher and more than willing to pass along his knowledge to the future generations. He knew the importance of wisdom and continually placed a high value on education. During these years, Chuck was able to earn his Master's Degree from the University of Nevada Reno in January of 1971. Chuck also began working summers for United Airlines to help supplement his teaching salary, effectively setting the example as a provider for his family. Chuck was very good at establishing routines. As an example, while Carol often worked weekends, Chuck was responsible for dinners. The children could almost certainly expect hamburgers on Saturdays and either beans or spaghetti on Sundays. Chuck was an excellent example of steadiness and consistency.

In 1976, Chuck retired from teaching and began working for United Airlines full- time at the Boise, Idaho airport. The household relocated to Eagle, Idaho to accommodate the career change and Chuck quickly felt at home in his new location. Again, Chuck was a fiercely dedicated employee and missed very little, if any, time from work during his 20 plus year career. Chuck retired from United Airlines in the mid 1990's and moved to Emmett, Idaho where he was able to spend the majority of his retirement years. Chuck was certainly a life-long teacher. His displays of preparedness, time management, and an unflappable work ethic was clearly visible to all those who came into contact with him.

Chuck enjoyed playing and watching sports, listening to military marches, fishing, and playing cards with his grandchildren (which ultimately ended in a math lesson). He loved to play basketball in the driveway or engage in a competitive game of ping pong. However, perhaps Chuck's greatest leisure time passion was spending time in his garden. Year after year, Chuck's gardens were a thing of beauty and perfectly planned with symmetry and a thorough understanding of crop rotation. These gardens did not tend themselves and Chuck would spend hours upon hours planting, fertilizing, weeding, watering, harvesting, etc. until everything was just right in his eyes. The result was a bounty of fresh produce that at times seemed to be almost unending. Many meals were concluded with a guest being politely prodded to eat just 3 more ears of corn or finish just one more cantaloupe with a scoop of ice cream (vanilla naturally, the maple nut was reserved for Chuck). Whether this great feat was accomplished or not, the guest would always leave with a bag or two of fruits and vegetables. Chuck was always happy to share his bounty with his family, friends, and co-workers.

Chuck lived a long and excellent life, and he will be sorely missed. Those of us within his sphere of influence cannot help but be altered and shaped in some way by knowing him. Thank you, Chuck for the life lessons and the good coaching. We love you.

Visitation for family and friends will be held from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm, Wednesday, October 18, 2023, at Bowman Funeral Parlor, 10254 W. Carlton Bay Dr. in Garden City. A graveside service will be held at 10:00 am, Thursday, October 19, 2023, at Dry Creek Cemetery, 9600 W. Hill Rd. in Boise.

Arrangements are under the direction of Bowman Funeral Parlor of Garden City.