Nicolette Betikoetxea

Nicolette Anne (Westermeier) Betikoetxea passed away on January 8, 2019, after a long and courageously fought battle with cancer. Nicolette led her life in a way that exemplified her deep faith, true goodness and selfless giving. She deeply loved her family and she also innately cared about everyone else. Nicolette touched every person with whom she came into contact with her genuine, caring manner. Nicolette quietly, but yet forcefully, made an incredibly positive difference in this world, every day she lived. To know Nicolette was to be -- and to absolutely feel -- like you were in the presence of true grace and love. She had a genuinely compassionate spirit. She was also incredibly strong, intelligent, intellectually curious, impeccably organized and strived for excellence in all she undertook. As a result, Nicolette was a wonderful daughter, sister, student, wife, mother, friend, colleague and businesswoman. Nicolette was born on October 24, 1960 at St. Joseph’s Hospital near Grangeville, Idaho. She attended grade school at Resurrection School in Cupertino California, and St. Mark’s Elementary School in Boise, Idaho. She graduated from high school at Bishop Kelly High School in Boise in 1978, where she was a member of the National Honor Society and a fierce competitor on the BK tennis team – as well as the driver of a coveted CJ-5 Jeep. Nicolette was quite talented and artistic, but she decided to focus her intellect in a more pragmatic way by pursuing an education in business, and she graduated from Boise State University in 1982. During her college years, she worked at KTVB Channel 7 in news production and business administration. Following her graduation from BSU, Nicolette moved to Seattle, Washington, where she worked a number of years for King 5 TV in a business administration/leadership role. She also worked for the Archdiocese of Seattle. She met and married the love of her life, Imanol Betikoetxea in Seattle in 1996. She had three children while living in Seattle, Francis Xavier (1997) John Paul (1999) and Lourdes Clare (2002). Her children were the nucleus and joy of her life. She was the absolute definition of a loving mother, who would do anything for her children. Her decisions always put family first. She lovingly laid a foundation for each of her children’s academic success and faith-filled, values-based lives. Nicolette loved living near the water in Seattle, but eventually moved back to Boise to be near to and help care for her parents. She led her brothers and sisters’ efforts to enable their parents to carry out their final happy days of their long lives in their own home. Back in Boise, Nicolette worked at Boise State University and then at the Idaho Association for the Education of Young Children (AEYC) for a number of years. Working at the AEYC enabled Nicolette to couple her innate desire to help others in the community with her intellect and business acumen. At the AEYC, and everywhere else Nicolette ever worked, she was unfailingly accountable, loyal, immensely valued, immeasurably impactful and well-loved. Throughout her life Nicolette volunteered in many settings, including at her parish and in her children’s schools. Most Sundays would find her either serving at the church in some capacity or bringing a kind face and friendly word to residents of local residential care facilities. Nicolette was preceded in death by her parents, Erwin and Felice Westermeier, her sister Cynthia Anne Westermeier, and her brothers, Erwin Michael Westermeier, David James Westermeier, and Burton James Westermeier. She is survived by her husband Imanol Betikoetxea, her children Francis, John Paul, and Lourdes Betikoetxea, her sisters Michelle M. Ghabranious (Nashat) (Maryland) , Stephanie C. Westermeier (Steven Hippler) (Boise) and her brothers, Greg Westermeier (Boise), Eugene T. Westermeier (Maryland), Timothy V. Westermeier (Maryland) and Jon Westemeier (Julie)(Boise), and numerous and dearly-loved nieces and nephews. Nicolette’s family would like to thank all those who supported her with kindness at the AEYC and Bishop Kelly, and those who cared for her at Saint Alphonsus Cancer Care Center and Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Centers in Boise and Nampa, with a special thanks to her compassionate primary care physician, Dr. Patrice Burgess. They also thank Norco for providing DME, and the supportive community of St. Mary’s Catholic Parish in Boise, with a special thanks to Fr. John Worster. *Please see "Service Information" tab for service details. *