Sheepherder's Ball 2013 at the Basque Center

The holidays are quickly approaching, and that means that Sheepherders Ball is almost here! Sheepherder's Ball began as a way for Basque sheepherders to socialize indoors after spending a long summer in the high country with their sheep herds.  The tradition continues today with a traditional Basque dinner, music, a live auction and dancing.  Each year at Sheepherder's Ball, the Oinkari first-year dancers (the "New Kids" make their debut as full members of the group.

Each year, proceeds from the Sheepherder's Ball and the accompanying Lamb Auction go to the Basque Charities account to help support a person or family in need.  Typically, the recipient is someone (Basque or non-Basque) who has fallen ill and needs help financially.  Gabriel Swope has been chosen by the Basque Foundation Board of Directors to be the primary recipient of the funds raised at the 2013 Sheepherder’s Ball and Lamb Auction.  Read more about Gabriel’s story here.

This year's celebration is on Saturday, December 21st, after the women's baleen final game at the Fronton. Entertainment will begin upstairs at 7:30 PM. Oinkari will perform at 8:00 PM, followed by the lamb auction which raises funds for the Basque charities account.  The dance, featuring Amuma Says No, will begin at 9:30 PM.   The cost for the entire event is $5, or free if you are an Euzkaldunak member attending the dinner.  Join us!

Oinkari dancers perform San Juan Dantza at Sheepherder's 2011

In Memory of Lil Jausoro, Euzkaldunak Charter Member and "Amuma" To All

Lydia Sillonis Jausoro
1920 ~ 2013

Lydia "Lil" Jausoro, 93, of Boise, died Thursday, November 14, 2013, in a Murray, Utah, hospital. A vigil and rosary will be said at 6 p.m. on Thursday, November 21, at St. Mary's Church, preceded by a viewing at 5 p.m. Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, November 22, at 11 a.m., at St. Mary's, with Rev. Tom Faucher presiding. Burial will follow at Morris Hill Cemetery.

Lydia was born March 28, 1920, in Mountain Home, to Julia Chacartegui from Lekeitio and Pablo Sillonis from nearby Ispaster in the Basque Country. She was the sixth child among seven and the only daughter. She was usually called "Lil" by her brothers—older brothers Julio "Juke," John "Chuck," Richie, Alphonso and younger brother Robert. Lil had happy childhood memories while growing up in Mountain Home—riding her bike, playing sports (including basketball!!) and developing life-long friends. Her father Pablo was a sheepherder, and she told many stories of the summer days in Chimney Creek where her older brothers also had jobs in the sheep camp. Lil was very sharp and bright; she skipped third grade, thus joining her brother Alphonse all through school. Together they graduated from Mountain Home High School in 1937. In the same year, she was named Elmore County Rodeo queen and was given her crown by Senator William Borah. (She didn't know exactly how she deserved the award. While she did ride a horse, she certainly didn't do any fancy riding or roping.) After high school she attended Boise Business School, staying at Jayo's Boarding House, and soon began her career as a secretary.

Lil first met her future husband Louis Jausoro in September of 1936 when Louie and three of his friends drove from Nampa to Mountain Home and happened to meet Lil and three of her friends. Ten years later, Louie and Lil were married in Nampa. Louie was a member of and employed by the Idaho Air National Guard at Gowen Field. Lil resumed working in 1955 and was employed by the Idaho Army National Guard, retiring in 1981. Louie and Lil had two daughters Juliana and Robby Lou.

As charter members of the Euzkaldunak, Inc. (1949), Louie and Lil were active life-long members. They also were early members and gift shop volunteers for the Basque Museum and long-time members of St. Mary's Church. Additionally, Lil was a member of Mountain Home's Euskal Lagunak and Homedale's Txoko Ona Basque Clubs. Louie and Lil were Bronco fans and season-ticket holders for BSU football and basketball games. They enjoyed traveling to the Basque Country and made five memorable trips together—their last in 1995 when they were accompanied by many family members, including their four grandchildren. Christina, Johnny, Jill and Jude have everlasting memories of their travels, particularly of Amuma interpreting stories from Basque to English for them (including her own colorful commentary). Lil loved to attend dances, dinners and parties. Never reaching 5 feet in height but constantly on the go, she was described as "the energizer bunny" or "a ball of fire." Lil was a good driver with excellent vision, and she renewed her driver's license last March. With her 1992 Explorer, she was good-to-go until 2017. In the last several months, she limited her driving to Albertson's or to Becki's to get her hair done. She was well loved and admired by people of all ages who will miss her wit and enthusiasm. Lil was a living memory vault and was often tapped so she could fill in the gaps or clarify information—unknown or long-forgotten by most others. Lil was an outstanding cook; particularly, her flan and Basque tongue were legendary. One of Lil's legacies will be the Basque band "Amuma Says No." Amuma was a big fan of "her" band and the members: granddaughter Jill and the boys—Dan, Sean, Rod, Micah, Aaron and former members Spencer and Dave. The band was named as such because of Jill's insistence that Amuma approve of whichever name was chosen. Clearly, this was one example of how her opinion was an important consideration in that decision and any others in life.

Lil made two additional trips to the Basque Country. In 2007, Lil toured with Juliana and Robby Lou and the Oinkaris (three of her grandchildren were dancers at the time). Her last trip was in 2011, with the Oinkaris and Amuma Says No on tour. At 90 years of age, Amuma Lil was interviewed in Euskera (the Basque language) by the media in many towns.

Lil's family brought her great joy—family dinners and trips were frequent. Lil had never been to Mexico, so 14 family members celebrated her 93rd birthday in Cabo San Lucas. Amuma's four great-grandchildren were her main source of pride. She enjoyed Conner's and Josephine's activities, programs and Boise'ko performances. The twins Johnny & Jimmy delighted her in their conservations or when they ate her rice pudding or deviled eggs "gustora."

Lil is survived by her daughters and sons-in-law Juliana & John R. Aldape and Robby Lou & Jude Gary; her four grandchildren: Christina & her husband Josh Bawden, John Luis Aldape & his wife Jennifer, Jill Aldape & her husband Xanti Alcelay, and Jude Gary; and four great-grandchildren: Conner Gary Bawden and Josephine Lydia, John Leandro & James Louis Aldape. She is also survived by her sister-in-law Sylvia Goicoechea Sillonis and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends—here and in the Basque Country—who have adopted Amuma Lil as their own. She was preceded in death by her husband Louie, who died in 2005, and all her Sillonis brothers: baby Joseph, Alphonse, Robert, Chuck (and his wife Gloria), Juke and finally Rich (just 5 months ago). She was also pre-deceased by her Jausoro sisters- and brothers-in-law: Marie & Jess Bermensolo, Joe & Julie Jausoro, Lola & Ellis Wickham, Jim & Isabel Jausoro, and Tony Jausoro.

Memorial contributions would be graciously accepted by: Oinkari Basque Dancers, PO Box 1011, Boise 83701; Euzkaldunak Basque Foundation, PO Box 2613, Boise 83701; and the Basque Museum & Cultural Center, 611 Grove Street, Boise 83702.
Agur, Amuma. Go easy.

Published in Idaho Statesman from Nov. 17 to Nov. 20, 2013
original post: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/idahostatesman/obituary.aspx?n=lydia-jausoro&pid=168074069&fhid=6415#sthash.hBeCen6J.dpuf

Basque Foundation Charities Selects 2013 Primary Recipient: Gabriel Swope

Gabriel Swope has been chosen by the Basque Foundation Board of Directors to be the primary recipient of the funds raised at the 2013 Sheepherder’s Ball and Lamb Auction.  Gabriel Swope was born with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, a congenital condition where the left ventricle of the heat is critically underdeveloped.  Gabriel's parents and two children literally moved to Stanford so that Gabriel could be born in the Lucille Packard Children's Hospital, one of a few places where surgeons perform an intricate series of open heart surgeries that saved Gabriel's life. 

The Norwood open heart procedure was performed when Gabriel was a week old.  The surgeon created a "new" aorta and connected it to the right ventricle so that blood could be pumped to both lungs.  The second open heart surgery called the Glenn Procedure was performed when Gabriel was six weeks old.  During this time Gabriel was on a feeding tube and critical medications. Beth, his mom had to quit her teaching job to tend to Gabriel.  Earle, his dad, is a fireman in Boise and had to take significant time off.  They never left Gabriel's side.

Gabriel, now eight months old, has one more heart surgery when he turns three.  He will always be at risk, but with the love and support of his family and friends he is doing well.  He is a miracle child that would not have lived if his Boise pediatrician hadn't recognized the problem before Gabriel's birth.

Earle Swope is a cousin to John and Norma Odiaga from Jerome.  Earle's arborglyphs of the immigrant sheepherder’s tree carvings are a part of the Basque Museum's display--Immigrant Shadows:  Tracing the Herder's Legacy.

The family is grateful for the support of the Basque community and the Basque Charities Foundation.