Eva Faun Burnside Josephson, 86, passed away peacefully on Saturday, August 7, 2010 with her daughter and granddaughter by her side.

Eva, the youngest of eleven children born to Sarah Ann and Alexander Burnside, entered this world on August 17, 1923 in Chapin, Idaho.

Her dear mother died when Eva was only seven years of age.

Two years later, her family moved to Driggs where she graduated high school in May of 1941.

While at school, Eva met the love of her life, Dale Josephson.

Rather than going to secretary school in Salt Lake City, Eva chose to marry Dale on October 13, 1941 - the day his mother allowed them to borrow the car to drive to Rexburg for the ceremony.

She was a spitfire and they said it would never last.

Eva and Dale were happily married for 69 years.

Following their marriage, Dale and Eva returned to his parent's farm in Driggs where they pulled logs from the forest and built their first residence.

Eva hewed all the logs by hand. Later, they purchased their farm in Bates five miles west and two and a half miles south of Driggs.

Dale and Eva had four children: Randy, Daren, Don, and Cheryl.

Daren and Don were twin boys. Sadly Don only lived 24 hours.

While residing in Bates, Eva tended her three young children and ran the farm when Dale broke his leg while helping to construct Palisades Dam.

After living in Bates for 15 years, Dale and Eva rented their farm and moved annually throughout Montana, Washington, Wyoming and Idaho in order to follow Dale's construction job with Peter Kewitt. During this time, Eva and her family lived in West Yellowstone, where they shared many happy adventures in Yellowstone Park including feeding bears their favorite treat of Ritz Crackers.

In 1965, Eva, Dale, and the children moved to Boise where Eva lived for the rest of her live.

Eva loved to crochet and knit.

She won awards for her beautiful hand crafted porcelain dolls.

She loved to bowl and spent over 20 years bowling on a league at Westy's Bowling Alley.

Eva worked many jobs during her life and was proud to be a manager of the Gold Strike Stamp Store in Caldwell, Idaho.

Always a lady, Eva's stoic demeanor scarcely concealed her sharp wit, mischievousness, competitiveness, and sardonic sense of humor.

Her trademark brilliant blue eyes and Mona Lisa smile conveyed as many emotions as they concealed.

A true matriarch, Eva loved, cared for, and fiercely protected her family.

She was larger than life and a pillar of strength, a keystone in a family blessed to have known her for nearly 87 years.

She will be sadly missed by all lucky enough to have glimpsed the twinkle in her eyes.

Eva is survived by her husband Dale Josephson; son, Daren Josephson; son, Randy Josephson; daughter, Cheryl Patrick; granddaughter, Kelly Burns and her husband Dan.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Friday, August 13, 2010 at Relyea Funeral Chapel located at 318 N. Latah in Boise.

Friends may call to visit with the family on Thursday, August 12th, from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. at Relyea Funeral Chapel, and from 9:00 until 10:00 a.m. at the chapel on Friday prior to the services.

Interment will follow at Dry Creek Cemetery.

Services are under the direction of Relyea Funeral Chapel.

Published in Idaho Statesman on August 11, 2010