Catherine Rickerl

Catherine (Cathy) Simar Rickerl, 77, of Boise, passed away on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, in her home with her family by her side. She was born on October 19, 1948, in Santa Barbara, California, to Elizabeth (McGuinness) and Alvin Simar, the second oldest of four girls. Because her father served in the Navy, the family moved frequently throughout her childhood.

Cathy graduated from Western High School in Las Vegas in 1966. She met the love of her life, Thomas H. Rickerl, Jr, in Las Vegas while he was stationed there, and they were married on August 10, 1968.

After marrying, Cathy and Tom moved to his home state of South Dakota, where Tom attended college, and Cathy began working for Mountain Bell Phone Company. In 1973, they welcomed their first child, Heidi. The family moved to Boise, Idaho, in 1974, where Tom joined the Idaho Air National Guard, and Cathy transferred to continue her career with Mountain Bell, which later became Qwest. Their second child, Ryan, was born in Boise in 1974, followed by their third child, Cara, in 1976. Cathy continued her career with Qwest until retiring in 2003 at just 54 years young.

In retirement, Cathy discovered a passion for running, and it quickly became a defining part of her life. She trained relentlessly, set ambitious goals, and became a fierce competitor. She completed 12 full marathons, including the Boston Marathon, along with countless half marathons and shorter races.

After Tom passed away in October 2020, Cathy began volunteering in the cat area at the Idaho Humane Society. She had a lifelong love of animals, especially cats, and cared for many over the years. Her beloved Chloe and Jax remain on this earth after her passing.

Cathy is survived by her children Heidi Brace (Justin), Ryan Rickerl (Michelle), and Cara Newberry (Jim); and her grandchildren Kylie, Heather, Sam, Maddie, Isaak, and Nate.

She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband Tom, and her grandchild Hannah.

Cathy had a wonderful spirit, a beautiful smile, and an even better laugh. She was funny and quick-witted, always ready for easy banter and shared humor. Her warmth, personality, and zest for life will continue in her children, grandchildren, family, and friends as someone who truly embraced life to the fullest.