Mercedes Bicandi

Mercedes Anchustegui Bicandi was born in Mountain Home, Idaho, on April 2, 1914, to Pedro and Josefa Anchustegui.

She passed away Sept. 26, 2010, at her home in Caldwell.

Her father came from Spain in 1901 and worked in the sheep industry until 1907 when Josefa came from Spain. They opened up a boarding house in Mountain Home and Pedro built the first handball court in Mountain Home, which is now a historical site.

Living in the boarding house, Mercedes and her brother and sisters were surrounded by music and dancing. In the winter when the herders came to town there were dances and lively matches on the handball court.

After graduating from high school, Mercedes went to nurses training at Mercy Hospital, graduating in 1935 as a registered nurse. She worked at Mercy as head surgical nurse until her son, Richard, was born.

She married Lucas Bicandi July 8, 1939, and together they farmed until he retired and they moved to town where she has resided for the last 35 years.

She loved her yard and flowers, Basque music and keeping scrapbooks of all the family history.

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

She is survived by her sister, Beatrice Bollinger, of Mountain Home, her son and daughter-in-law, Richard "Dick" Bicandi and Dorothy, her grandchildren Mitch (Bobbi) Bicandi, Gina (Tad) Dowen, great-granddaughters Alli Bicandi, Sami Bicandi and Morgan Dowen and many nieces and nephews.

We would like to thank mummašs special friend and neighbor of 20 years, Shirley Bingle, for her friendship and help taking care of her in the last few months.

A graveside service will be held for her at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 30, 2010, at Canyon Hill Cemetery in Caldwell. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.flahifffuneralchapel.com.