Sharon Jeanne Beaver died peacefully in her sleep on Tuesday, October 17. She was 91 years old. Sharon was born and raised in Boise. She was the daughter of William and Dorothy Roden and sister of Bill Roden.
The family lived mostly in Boise’s North End. Her father was an officer for the Works Progress Administration during the depression. The family moved several times for his various placements. Her father later became a procurement officer for government internment camps for Japanese American residents in Utah and Minnedoka. Her parents did not condone this treatment of these citizens. Sharon told stories about their efforts to include camp residents in their family’s activities and the friendships they formed. After her father left government service, they purchased the Sawtooth Lodge in Grandjean. Sharon was never happier than when helping guide their guests through the Idaho wilderness on horseback.
They eventually sold the lodge and moved back to Boise. She graduated from Boise High School and the University of Idaho. At Idaho, she met Calvin White. They were married in December, 1953. Cal went into the Air Force after graduation and was stationed back east. This was one of the happiest times of Sharon’s life. Their son Craig was born in 1954. Unfortunately, Cal was diagnosed with cancer. He left the service and they returned to Idaho. In the last year of Cal’s life, he attended law school at U of I. Cal passed in 1958. While Sharon had lots of family support during this time, she was especially indebted to Cal’s sister Marge Day and her brother Bill and his wife Betty.
In 1959, she met and married Bob Beaver. They had two sons, Scott and Bryon. She loved watching them play baseball. They were divorced in the early-1990’s. After their divorce, they remained good friends.
Sharon always had a dog by her side. She loved them all dearly.
Sharon was an elementary school teacher and reading specialist. She taught at several Boise elementary schools and ended her career at Monroe Elementary. Sharon touched the lives of so many children, giving them the key to learning through reading. She retired in the mid 1990’s and shared her love of reading and learning with her grandchildren. She had many close friends and delighted in spending time with them.
She was proceeded in death by her parents, brother Bill, husbands Cal and Bob, son Scott and grandson Sean. She is survived by her sons Craig (Carolyn) and Bryon Beaver, and daughter-in-law Jan Beaver, as well as grandchildren Kristen and Jordan (Katie) Beaver and Allison (Mark) Burrola.
Sharon did not want a formal service. Donations in her name can be made to the Idaho Humane Society or the Idaho Education Association’s Children’s Fund.