Linda (Shaw) Bowcutt

Linda Bowcutt, 81, passed on Sept. 23, 2022, from a tough fight with pancreatic cancer.  She was born on April 24, 1941, at the family farm in Hoxie, Kansas, to Ivan and Freda Shaw.  Linda was raised in this area all of her young life with her older brother, Clyde Shaw.  Linda grew up loving the life of a farm girl, always alongside helping her parents.  She loved all that the farm had to offer including horseback riding.

She attended grades 1-8 in a one room school house located on the family farm a half mile away from the homestead. She had the same teacher all eight of those years!  During her high school years, she worked as a life guard at the Community Pool and at her aunt and uncle’s dry cleaners.  Upon graduating in 1958 at 17, with only 50 people in her class, Linda took off in her 1957 Chevy and moved to Denver and attended a 1-year Business School.  She worked in Denver at Martin Marietta and the Colorado Health District.

 It was in Denver when she met the love of her life while he was stationed at Lowry Air Force Base, James (Jim) Bowcutt.  Ironically, their first date was on April Fools’ Day in 1960.  On that date, Jim told Linda that he was going to marry her and she might as well get used to the idea.  He asked her to marry him on their second date.  They were married Sept. 4, 1960, for 53 years until his passing. 

In August 1961, their first son, James (Brad) was born, with their second son Brian, July of 1962.  They moved to Ogden, Utah in 1967, and their daughter Belinda joined the family.  They also spent a short time living in Salt Lake City, UT. In 1969, Jim received a transfer with the 7-11 Convenience Store Chain and they moved their family to their forever home in Boise, Idaho.  Coincidentally, the home they bought was at 711 S. Roosevelt, must have been meant to be.  Linda took care of children in the home and even brought in 3 foster girls to come live in their home, bringing them the much love they needed.  In 1970, she started working for the State of Idaho as a Secretary and later an Administrative Secretary, retiring after 33 years in 2003.  While we called it retirement she has kept herself extremely busy in helping do so many trades working at her son Brad’s shop, JB Laser, building and staining wood projects and engraving all types of plastic and metals she was far from “retired.”

While Linda had a bountiful garden in the early years in the backyard in which the famous “Bowcutt Ranch” swimming pool now resides, it just gave her more opportunities to do what she has and always will be known for, opening her home to anyone and everyone!  While Jim was known for hosting many family gatherings, we all know who the real host was. Linda worked herself weary ensuring family gatherings for the holidays and special occasions at the home were ones that made each person feel loved and cared for. Linda also opened her home to all of her children’s friends and was thought of by many as a second mother.  She wouldn’t only give them love but tough love when needed.  The same was true to her grandkids and their friends.  Linda, or “Granny” held a special place in so many of their lives.  She had many adopted children and grandchildren and loved them all without “rules or restrictions”, especially in difficult times.

Linda was preceded in death by her parents Ivan and Freda Shaw, in-laws Joseph and Beth Bowcutt, brother Clyde, sisters-in law Julie, Barbara and Kristie, brother-in-law Joe, an infant granddaughter Gracie, and her adopted father Lawrence (Eddie) Fager. 

Linda is survived by her loving and devoted family son Brad (Barb) Bowcutt, son Brian (Kseniya) Bowcutt, and daughter Belinda (Jerry) Hitesman.   Her pride and joy were her grandchildren; Nick and Chad Bowcutt, Stephanie (Justin) Santero, Brian Bowcutt II, Brittany (Ryan) Schmidt, Annika Robinson, Todd Hitesman, Raelene (Matt) Haggard, Becca (Jaime) Valdez, Emily (George) Vanhorn, eleven adorable great-grandchildren Halle and Hudson Santero, Alex and Thomas Schmidt, Addison Haggard, Ashlynn, Trinity, and Gabbi Valdez/Nixon, Aaron, Nathan, and William Vanhorn.   Sister-in-law Rowdy and brother-in-law Garth Vest, and all her very special and dear nieces and nephews that were like her children.  And not to be forgotten dear friend Karen Riggs.

Services are scheduled for Friday, Oct. 14, 2022 at Boise New Hope Church, 8585 Overland Road, with Pastor Matthew Haggard officiating. Memorial Services will be at 11:00 a.m. Everyone is invited to a luncheon immediately following the Memorial at the church.  Burial services will follow at Morris Hill Cemetery.   Services are under the direction of Nampa Funeral Home, Yraguen Chapel where an online guest book is available at www.nampafuneralhome.com

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