Tony Rasch, born December 1, 1944, walked many miles on this earth and touched the hearts of many before his passing on August 12, 2021. He passed peacefully in his home in the Bitterroot Valley with his wife and daughter at his side.
One of the highlights of Tony’s life was his Lupine Walk where at 36 years old, Tony decided to leave time behind and follow a river to its source. He backpacked across Wyoming and Montana. Later in life, he completed his trek hiking across Arizona and Utah completing the trip from Mexico to Canada. Tony has hiked across Wyoming twice, first on his lupine walk and later along the Hand Cart Trail where he walked from Iowa City to Salt Lake City retracing the footsteps of his ancestors.
His love for wild flowers, mountains and nature has touched the souls of many. Born in Pocatello, Idaho, his family moved to Jackson, Wyoming where he graduated from high school and spent his spare time skiing, hiking and mountain climbing.
Tony is a free spirit, it is not uncommon to hear stories of him sleeping under the stars or jumping off an iceberg. During his years at the University of Utah, Tony spent summers working on the Teton trail crew where he climbed Mount Moran solo.
Next came one of the highlights of his life in which Tony volunteered for the Peace Corps, spending three years in Shambu, Ethiopia, where he crossed the Blue Nile river with Wally Charlo on a cowhide boat filled with straw. He climbed Mount Kilimanjaro where he could touch the stars and had a spiritual awakening.
Then he moved to Seattle for graduate school with his wife Phlox. Tony continued to climb mountains and on Mount Kulshan (Baker) he had a vision a child would come to him and soon his daughter Heather Kulshan, a gift from the mountains, was born whom he baptized in the mountain stream.
Next, he moved to Olympia where he continued to work for the Department of Fisheries. A few years later he worked overseas in Oman where he traveled beaches observing fishermen and villagers helping develop their Department of Fisheries. Tony loved adventures and untouched lands. He liked things wild, uninfluenced by modern times. Other treks took him to Denali, Denmark, Mexico, Iceland, Guatemala and the Bob Marshall Wilderness.
In his mid-years, he settled in Bozeman, Montana where he married his wife Kay. They entertained many friends and were active in the Dances of Universal Peace. Kay is an accomplished chef and Tony was an avid gardener. Tony loved being a grandfather and playing games with his grandkids and taking them backpacking and camping.
Tony was a writer with published books. He also loved Scrabble and spent hours writing Scrabble books and creating word lists and formed the Hamilton Scrabble Club.
Tony moved to the Bitterroot Valley in 2007 with his wife Kay. They are active members of a spiritual community, the Center for Spiritual Life and the Dances of Universal Peace. Tony is a storyteller who cares deeply about indigenous cultures. Tony loved camping and canoeing with his wife Kay, traveling the West.
He loved community yet savored his yearly month of solitude in which he volunteered for the Selway Bitterroot Foundation, working at the Shearer cabin.
Tony continues to touch the hearts of many through his book “The Lupine Walker.” Tony is survived by his wife Kay, his daughter Heather, grandsons Solomon and Ross, stepchildren Aaron and Laura and their children. Loved by many, his spirit and inspiration carry on. Connect with the spirit of nature, honor our earth, help her be healthy and live fully! It’s been a good ride, says Tony. You have a good ride too.
In his honor, contributions could be made to the Selway Bitterroot Foundation.