Juke Sillonis, 92

Julio Joseph "Juke" Sillonis, 92, of Mountain Home, died Wednesday, July 21, 2004, at the Elmore Medical Center Hospital.

Funeral services were held Saturday, July 24, at Summers Funeral Homes, McMurtrey Chapel. Burial followed at Mountain View Cemetery.

Julio was born June 8, 1912, in Mountain Home. He graduated from high school in 1930.

As a young man Juke worked as a sheepherder for Barinaga Sheep Company. Juke came to town to work at Pete's Pastime soon after high school. Later he formed a partnership with his Uncle Tacolo Chacartegui and took over the Stockman Card Room and Cafe.

Juke married Evelyn Balfour in 1940 and they later divorced.

Juke joined the U.S. Navy and was honorably discharged in 1945.

After retirement he busied himself with farmland management and homegrown tomatoes, peppers and dahlias.

He was an avid BSU football and basketball fan. Little Camas provided fish that Juke, Rich, John and Bob Mendiola caught for the whole town.

Juke was a charter member of the Elks Lodge, Euzkaldunak, Inc., of Boise, and the American Legion.

Juke is survived by: his son, Robert Sillonis of Palm Springs, Calif.; sister Lydia (Lil) and her husband, Louis Jausoro, both of Boise; and brother Richard (Rich) of Glenns Ferry; sisters-in-law Gloria Sillonis of Mountain Home and Sylvia Sillonis of Pomeroy, Wash.; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Julia and Pablo Sillonis, his brothers Alphonso, Robert, John (Chuck) and an infant brother.

Families suggest memorial contributions to the Euzkaldunak, Inc., of Boise, or the Basque Museum and Cultural Center of Boise.