Beatriz Bollinger

Beatriz T. Anchustegui Bollinger was born in her father's Basque boarding house in Mountain Home, on April 5, 1916. She was raised by her parents, Pedro and Josefa Anchustegui, and lived, was educated and spent her entire life in Mountain Home.

She passed away on Nov. 28, 2014.

Her father, Pedro Anchustegui, came from Spain to Idaho in 1901, and her mother followed a few years later in 1907. Pedro worked in the sheep industry and built his boarding house behind which he constructed the first handball court in Mountain Home, which is now a nationally designated historic site.

Beatriz attended school in Mountain Home and graduated from Mountain Home High School in 1934. She loved to sing and sang in all the school choirs while in high school. She frequently sang with her father and sister Mercedes Anchustegui Bicandi. They could harmonize together beautifully and entertained everyone at many Basque festivities in the boarding house.

In 1937, she married Clifford Norton of Pocatello. They met in Pine and Clifford was an excellent concert violinist. Beatriz often said he could play all the major concertos by heart and did not need sheet music. She and her husband, Clifford, toured around the country, Clifford playing the violin with his small orchestra and Beatriz singing.

In 1945, a daughter, Jeanne, was born of that marriage. Beatriz sang to her daughter constantly and taught Jeanne to sing as well. While Jeanne was growing up, Beatriz and her daughter sang many World War II songs and Basque songs together. It was a loving relationship and has been a loving journey for the two of them.

She was divorced at a young age and in 1951 married Elmer Bollinger.

Beatriz worked at the Mountain Home Merc and then was employed by the First Security Bank from Aug. 19, 1956, to July 1973, at which time she retired.

She was preceded in death by her husband, mother and father, step-mother Maria Anchustegui, sisters Helen Meabe, Margaret Arosteguy, Mercedes Bicandi, brother Gene Anchustegui and their spouses.

Beatriz is survived by her daughter, Jeanne Marie Benson, and son-in-law Jon Douglas Benson, of Reno, Nev., and by several nieces, nephews and cousins.

The family would like to thank special friend Dena Russell for her friendship and care of Beatriz these last years.

A memorial service will be scheduled at a future date.