Bybee, Ida Kaufman

Ida Kaufman Bybee, 94, of Boise, died Monday, Sept. 25, 2006 at a Boise care center. Family will greet friends at a viewing held Thursday, Sept. 28, from 6-8 p.m. at Relyea Funeral Chapel. Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, Sept. 29, at the Joplin Cemetery on Chinden Boulevard, just past Hewlett-Packard. Ida was born on Feb. 2, 1912 in Alta, Wyo. in the Teton Valley the 5th child of Swiss immigrant parents, Rudolph Kaufman and Rosina Katharina Durtchi Kaufman. In Switzerland, all family members worked to their abilities and so the practice continued in the Kaufman home in Alta. Farm work included planting, caring for crops, harvesting, milking cows, and soon making Swiss cheese commercially. Homemaking skills were also taught to all the girls who learned to cook, sew and clean until everything sparkled! In her early teens, Ida met a young man named Lee Bybee who was employed by the cheese cooperative as a milk hauler. Soon a romance was started and on Aug. 4, 1926 they were married in Rexburg, Idaho. Times were tough during the depression and Lee lost his job when the coal mine closed in Teton Valley. They packed their bags and moved to Boise to join Lee´s parents and look for work. Boise then became a permanent home for Lee and Ida for their remaining lives. Ida worked at CC Anderson Department Store and Lee worked several jobs until he landed his final employment with the Post Office. They also operated a Mom and Pop grocery store on Warm Springs Avenue for 13 years. This was during WW II and as their business grew so did many lifelong friendships with many GIs and their wives who shopped at their little store. In 1948 Lee and Ida became the proud parents of a baby boy, Rudy James Bybee. This was indeed a happy time for them, as Rudy became a permanent member of their little family. With mixed emotions Lee and Ida sold their Warms Springs home and moved closer to Rudy and RaNae and their four grandchildren who brought them much joy and happiness. In 1996 Lee passed away and Ida went to live at the Boise Samaritan Care Center for the next 10 1/2 years. Many thanks of appreciation go the wonderful staff that work there. Ida is survived by her son, Rudy (RaNae); and four grandchildren, James (Sarah) Bybee of Nampa and their three children, Jared (Tara) Bybee of Boise, Rochelle (Chris) Cottle of Boise, and Joel Bybee of Boise. In addition to many nieces and nephews, she has four surviving sisters, Lena (Garr) Robinson of Star Valley, Wyo., Beth Webb of St. George, Utah, Isabel (Russell) Stone of Driggs, Idaho, and Ella (Sam) Beard of Tetonia, Idaho. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Lee; and three brothers and four sisters. Ida was a much loved mother, wife, sister and friend. She loved serving others. She was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in several capacities in the church. Donations in her memory may be made to the Humanitarian Fund or the Perpetual Education Fund in care of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or to a favorite charity of your choice.

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