Basque community icon Domingo Aguirre dies at age 90

Domingo Manuel Aguirre, 90, of Mountain Home, passed away peacefully at a Boise care center on June 14, 2011.

A viewing will be held at 3 p.m. with a rosary following at 4 p.m. on Sunday, June 19, at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church.

A funeral mass will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, June 20, at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church, followed by a funeral dinner at Good Counsel Hall.

A private family interment will be held after the funeral mass at Mountain View Cemetery.

Arrangements are under the direction of Rost Funeral Home, McMurtrey Chapel.

Domingo Manuel Aguirre was born in Mountain Home on Feb. 23, 1921, to Domingo Aguirre and Juanita Urquidi.

Domingo and his brother, Richard, spent many great years working alongside their father on the family ranch near Mountain Home and at Prairie.

He graduated from Mountain Home High School where he excelled in academics and athletics.

He followed his older brother, Richard, to the University of Washington in Seattle. He was a pole vaulter for the University of Washington track team. After two years of college, he was summoned to help his father in the sheep business when his brother, Richard, was killed in 1943 during World War II.

Domingo spent many wonderful days working as a camp tender for his father's bands of sheep. He told many stories about his adventures in the mountains above Mountain Home.

He later became a partner in the agricultural business with his father and his brother, Felipe.

Riding the train's caboose to sell lambs in Ogden, Utah, were some of his happiest memories.

Domingo met Dolores Barinaga at a dance at the Anchustegui Boarding House in Mountain Home. They were married at St. John's Cathedral in Boise on Dec. 22, 1946.

Domingo and Dolores had two daughters, Sylvia and Diana. The family divided their time between their home in Mountain Home and the ranch at Prairie.

Domingo's entire life was about his family and showing extraordinary kindness to people. He loved working with people. During the Christmas holiday season, you would see him with his team of horses and wagon driving around town with groups of carolers. With his favorite horse, he rode in several Air Force Appreciation Day parades.

His Basque heritage was very important to Domingo. He helped with many Basque picnics and donated lambs for the fundraising at Basque dances. He loved talking Basque to his family and to other Basques in the area. He made one trip to the Basque country in Spain to visit relatives and several of the men who had worked with him in the sheep business.

Athletics were always a part of Domingo's life. He was a familiar figure at many of the high school and college events. He especially loved being a judge at homecoming events at the high school.

Domingo was a member of the Elmore County Planning and Zoning Board, the Basque organizations in Mountain Home and Boise, and the Knights of Columbus. He had the honor to be grand marshal for the Elmore County Fair.

In his later years, Domingo loved to listen to good accordion music and to take pictures. He traveled throughout Elmore County with his brother, Felipe, and his nephews, Richard and Felipe.

Looking at wildlife, the mountains, the farms, and the ranches were highlights of his days. Getting to know and to talk to people was especially important to him. He loved visiting with his two grandchildren.

Domingo is survived by: his wife of 64 years, Dolores; his daughters, Sylvia Aguirre of Mountain Home and Diana Bush and her husband, Bob, of Eagle; his grandchildren, Angela Bush of San Francisco and Rob Bush of Eugene, Ore.; his brother, Felipe, of Mountain Home, and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Richard, and his aunt Hilaria and her husband, Felipe Garay.

We would like to thank the many wonderful people who visited Dad during the last few months. Also, we would like to extend a very special thank you to the very warm and caring staff at the Life Care Center of Boise for their concern and support.

Memorial contributions can be made to: the Basque Museum & Cultural Center, 611 W. Grove St., Boise, ID 83702; the Basque Center, 601 W. Grove St, Boise, ID 83702; or the athletic department at Mountain Home High School, 300 S. 11th East St., Mountain Home, ID 83647.