Beverly Ann Huffman Fricke October 12, 1936 - July 29, 2022

Beverly Ann Huffman Fricke

Beverly Ann Huffman Fricke died of natural causes on July 29, 2022, at a Boise extended care facility.

She was born to Gail and Emmett Huffman in Coos Bay, Oregon, and spent her childhood in Ontario. Beverly graduated from Ontario High School, earned a Bachelor of Education from The College of Idaho, and a Master of Education from Boise State University.

Beverly married fellow College of Idaho ‘yote Omar Fricke in 1959. The couple moved to Meridian, where they managed their careers, raised their daughter, indulged their grandchildren, and doted on many large, good dogs and cats.

Beverly taught in Joint School District #2 for fifty years. She began her career in 1959 as a first-grade teacher at Eagle Elementary School. The District required her to take a leave while she was visibly pregnant, but she soon returned as reading specialist. She split her week between the district’s six elementary schools, putting thousands of miles on a series of sporty, late-model Plymouth Barracudas (silver, maroon, and green). In 1974, she took a full-time position at Lake Hazel Elementary, then at Summerwind Elementary, where she taught until her retirement. Beverly maintained close, lasting relationships with her teaching friends, sharing lunches, celebrations, and conversations until the very end of her life.

An expert skier, Beverly was among the first women on the Bogus Basin Ski Patrol. For decades, she spent every winter Sunday on the mountain. The Ski Patrol provided a unique sense of camaraderie and friendship that Beverly always valued.

Beverly leaves behind her husband, Omar Fricke, her sister Gloria Kieselhorst, her daughter Tamara Ansotegui, her son-in-law Dan Ansotegui, and her grandchildren Naomi Shapiro, Gavriel Shapiro, Nick Ansotegui, and Ellie Ansotegui.

Please join us for drinks, food, and stories to celebrate Beverly’s life on Monday, August 8 at 6:00 p.m. at Ansots Basque Chorizos and Catering, 560 W. Main in Boise.

We hope you will consider a memorial donation in honor of Beverly Fricke to one of her favorite organizations:  The Idaho Humane Society (https://idahohumanesociety.org/donate/), The Bogus Basin Ski Patrol (https://www.bbsp.org/donate), Conservation Voters for Idaho (https://cvidaho.org/donate/) or the Oinkari Basque Dancers  (https://www.oinkari.org/donationsgrants).

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