Willa Catherine Burghardt Hipwell

Willa Catherine Burghardt Hipwell, our beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, and friend, passed away on Monday, May 12, 2025, at the age of 92. She was surrounded by her daughters at the time of her passing.

Willa was born on April 3, 1933, in the back of the only grocery store in Grand View, Idaho, to William George Burghardt and Lulu Mabel Smith Burghardt. She was the only daughter among four children. Raised on the family ranch, she worked alongside her parents and also helped in the family-owned grocery store.

She graduated from Grand View High School in 1951 as part of a class of nine students. Willa was active in basketball and cheerleading, served as editor of the school paper, and held several leadership roles, including class president, secretary, and student body treasurer. After high school, she attended Boise Junior College.

Willa met the love of her life, George E. Hipwell, during high school through their shared love of basketball. George occasionally refereed her games, and one memorable moment involved him fouling her out of a game — something she never let him forget. The couple eloped on February 14, 1952, marrying at the courthouse in Salt Lake City, Utah. Their first home was a pair of bunkhouses joined together on the Shoofly Ranch.

Willa's most cherished role in life was that of caregiver. She lovingly cared for her son Scott, her mother, mother-in-law, brothers, and husband. She was a devoted farm wife, always willing to lend a hand on the family farm. Willa also worked for the Grand View/Bruneau School District as a school aide and hot lunch supervisor, served on the Owyhee County Election Board in Grand View, and was employed at the Mountain Home Air Force Base Exchange Dry Cleaners.

She began traveling at a young age, accompanying her father on grocery pickups to Boise and, occasionally, as far as Portland, Oregon. Willa and George enjoyed gambling and took frequent trips to Nevada. Together, they cruised to destinations including Australia, the Panama Canal, the Caribbean, and Mexico. She loved traveling with her family, including gymnastics trips with her daughter Launa, a school trip to Spain and France with her granddaughter Kayla, and a special journey to Chile with her daughter ReNae to pick up her grandson Bryan from his mission.

Family was Willa's greatest joy. Willa was devoted to her children and grandchildren, rarely missing a sporting event, school program, road trip, camping trip, holiday, or birthday celebration.

Willa was preceded in death by her husband, George E. Hipwell; her sons, Scott and Randy Hipwell; her son-in-law, Gene Bair; her grandson, Kieran Bair; her parents, William and Lulu Burghardt; and her siblings Charles, Edd, Frank, Sheldon, and Althea.

She is survived by her daughters, ReNae Bair of Nyssa, OR, and Launa (Randall) Jayo of Eden, ID; her daughter-in-law, Nancy Hipwell of Grand View, ID; and her grandchildren: Jeffrey Bair, Bryan (Rebecca) Bair, Braden Bair, Colby Bair, Kyle (Aymee) Hipwell, Kayla Hipwell, Nicolas Jayo, and Natalie (Garret) Lammers. She is also survived by her great-grandchildren: Braxton Bair, Brooke Bair, Bryler Bair, Owen Whitted, Randle Whitted, Dallyn Hipwell, Rawley Hipwell, Ryanne Lammers, and Harper Lammers.

The family wishes to extend their heartfelt gratitude to the staff at Canyons Retirement Community and to Dr. Gies for their exceptional care, compassion, and support of Willa.

A viewing will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, May 19, 2025, with funeral services following at 11:30 a.m. at the LDS Church in Grand View, Idaho. Interment will take place at Riverside Cemetery.