Bryce C. Boothby

Bryce C. Boothby, 91, of St. Joseph, MI, passed away Wednesday, June 17, 2015 at Hanson Hospice Center in Stevensville. Memorial Mass will be held 10:00 A.M. Saturday, June 20, 2015 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 220 Church St., St. Joseph, officiated by Father James Morris. Friends may visit from 5:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. Friday, June 19, 2015 at Starks & Menchinger Chapel & Cremation Services, with prayers at 7:00 P.M. Memorials may be made to Hanson Hospice Center. Those wishing to share a memory of Bryce online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Bryce was born in the family homestead in Benton Township on May 24, 1924, delivered by his grandfather, Dr. C.M. Ryno, a former mayor of Benton Harbor. He graduated from Benton Harbor High School in 1941 and Culver Military Academy in 1942.  In January 1943, he entered the U.S. Army and participated in two D Day Invasions, Leyte, Philippine Islands and Okinawa.  Upon his return to the U.S., he entered the University of Michigan, graduating in 1951 with a Master’s Degree in Public Administration. He was employed by the Harris Trust and Savings Bank and in 1955 joined the Illinois Central Railroad as assistant treasurer. The next fifteen years proved quite eventful.  He became Executive Assistant to the Chairman of IC Industries and left the firm in 1970 as Vice President and Corporate Secretary.  During that period he was responsible for the organization of two Chicago suburban banks.  Bryce also served as an elected trustee and mayor of Flossmoor, Illinois, from 1961-1973.  In 1970 Bryce returned to banking.  At retirement he was Chairman, President and CEO of Matteson-Richton Bank, Matteson, Illinois.  He was also director of Beverly Bancorporation and United of America Bank, and a director of the Trailer Train Corporation, Chicago.  During his career, his community involvement included hospital trustee; first President of the Prairie State College Foundation; member of Treasury Division, Association of American Railroads; President and Director of the Mid-America Chapter of the American Red Cross; member of the Illinois Governor’s Advisory Council; Vice President and Secretary of Palladium Publishing Company, Benton Harbor; and Charter President of the Rotary Club of Matteson, Illinois.  He was a past member of Flossmoor Country Club, Olympia Fields Country Club, Point O’Woods Country Club and Berrien Hills Country Club, and former director of the School of Public Policy University of Michigan.  He is a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church. Bryce is survived by his five children, Bryce C. Boothby, Jr. (Cathy), Diane Boothby, James Boothby (Debra), Wayne Boothby (Elizabeth), and Laurie Eichelman (Paul), daughter-in-law, Judith Boothby, his twelve grandchildren: Jacque, Lauren, Bryce, Clark, Megan, Ashley, Grace, Gavin, Lindsey, Nicole, Hannah and Evan, and two great-grandchildren, Killian and Lucas. He is preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Bette J. Boothby and his son Russell E. Boothby.