Wilma Arvilla 'Babe' Minetti, 85
Wilma Arvilla "Babe" (Perry) Minetti, 85, of Boise, Idaho, entered into rest on Sept. 13, 2014, at Regency Columbia Village Assisted Living in Boise.
Babe was born on April 7, 1929, in Oaksdale, Wash., the seventh child of nine; the baby girl of William and Arvilla Perry of Palouse, Wash. Her unusual nickname served her well, as the last daughter and the delight of her older siblings.
A graduate of Palouse High School, Babe went on to attend Eastern Washington College in Cheney, Wash. After leaving Cheney, Arvilla relocated to Denver, Colo., in the early 1950s where she worked and discovered cowboy culture.
After leaving Denver, Babe broke trail for Honolulu, Hawaii, where she lived for over a year working at a local photography store. Babe had a love for travel and for spending time with her family.
After returning to the Northwest, Arvilla began her career of more than 30 years in insurance working for the James Blasingame Insurance Company in Spokane, Wash. Her contemporaries at that agency will remember her as "Harvey," the gorgeous and vivacious redhead who managed the office.
While working in Spokane, Arvilla met and married Leo Gibeault in the mid-1960s. They were married for more than 10 years and then divorced. Arvilla married John Minetti in the late 1980s, and remained with him until his death in 2003.
After retirement, Babe and John made their summer home in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, and spent many winters in Apache Junction, Ariz. with their beloved dog, Gigi. Babe and John loved to travel together and took countless nieces, nephews and grandchildren on vacation with them. Most of the time they were stopping to visit family or friends when they set out on their travel endeavors.
After John's death, Babe moved back to Spokane to assist her first husband, Leo Gibeault, at his small ranch west of town. She was by his side until his death in 2011.
Babe was always drawn to family, and as her eight siblings began having families of their own, they could always count on their youngest sister to welcome new members of the family. Many of her nieces and nephews state that if it were not for the unsinkable Auntie Babe, their lives would have had far less entertainment, joy and love - none more so than Angela McCumber-Wachter and Andrew Valley, both of Boise. Babe was a role model, surrogate mother and best friend to these two siblings.
Babe spent her last three years in Boise near Angela and Andrew and their children. Her last days were spent at Regency Columbia Village. The family wishes to acknowledge their support, as well as the support of Heart 'n Home Hospice Care who assisted Babe during the past several months.
Babe is survived by her sister, Phyllis Seiler of Spokane; brothers G.A. Perry of Palouse, Wash., Dr. Max Perry of Bellingham, Wash., and Carl Perry of Virginia; and special loved ones Angela McCumber-Wachter, Jakob Wachter, Alyx Wachter, Andrew Valley, Paige and Lucas Valley of Boise; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
Babe lived life with a smile and all who knew her will always be grateful for her love of life. She was a joy to behold and always ready with a laugh and a song. Babe made the world a better place for all that knew her.
Memorial services are entrusted to River's Edge Church of Boise, at 2 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 3, at 2119 W. Overland Road, Boise, Idaho; www.visitriversedge.com.