One of my good friends up here in Spokane was born and raised in Nampa and is part Basque, on his mother's side. I'll find out his mom's maiden name soon, but he is certain that he is distantly related to the Laca family, which I believe is in Parma for the most part.
As some of you know, Gonzaga's head basketball coach is Mark Few and he married a Marcy Laca from Parma. She is Basque. (Quite attractive, I might add)
My big question is: I wonder if the Aguirre's of Mtn. Home know the Lacas. I believe an Aguirre family owned Joe's Club, right? Did the Aguirre's also own the Basque Hotel? And does Diana's family still own the sheep ranch that my 4th grade class took a field trip to (where I saw Diana and she looked so pretty)?
Who were some other well-known Basque families in/near Mtn. Home? Were the Aguirres the best known?
Bobby,
I wish Diana would answer this, but in her absence I will have to do. There were and are many Basque families in Mtn. Home. Dr. Bidegenta, the Urionas, the Yrazabals, the Lasuens, the Bermensolos just to mention a few.
But this would be a good time to mention that Diana's dad Dominqo will be the Grand Marshal for the Elmore County Fair and Rodeo. Saw it in the Mtn. Home News.
I believe that the Aguirre's who owned Joe's club were cousins of Diana's dad. I know Dominqo is selling off some of his land, from my last talk with Diana. And it was the Bidegenta's who owned the Basque Hotel.
I remember the trip to watch the shearing of the sheep too. That was so much fun.
When we walked to the old North Elementary, there was a big white house across from it and the elderly gentleman there would show us his lambs and let us call one of them our own. We would see them very often and it was a wonderful sight to watch them grow.
