Heidi Huntsman

Heidi Huntsman, our dearly beloved daughter, sister, and friend passed away Wednesday, May 26th, 2010, after an extended illness. She was 29. Heidi was born July 16, 1980, in Boise, Idaho, the second of five children of Bob and Lily Huntsman. She was bald for most of her first two years of life, and had to endure a bow glued to her head for much of the time because her dad wanted everyone to know she was a girl. Fortunately, her hair finally grew in and she was a lovely child. She was originally best friends with her big brother Scott until her little brother Matt came along and relegated Scott to "next best friend" status. Unlike her brothers, who cried buckets when they were first introduced to the nursery at church, Heidi waved goodbye to her mom and proceeded take charge of the situation, a characteristic which proved useful to her later in life. Heidi was at times motherly with her siblings and at other times a tease. She hounded Mom and Dad for a baby sister, only to be disappointed with two baby brothers, Matt and Tim. Eventually, to her delight, sister Wendy came along. Although their 13 year age difference posed some difficulties, Heidi quickly figured out if she pinched baby Wendy at church, they could both go out to the hall which proved to be a mutually satisfactory arrangement. Although Heidi found school to be generally boring, she was a pretty good student and surprised her family when she hit the books hard her senior year to graduate a year early from Meridian High School with her older brother Scott. She attended college first at the University of Idaho, and then at the University of Hawaii, concluding that the beaches at Waikiki in Hawaii were more conducive to scholarly achievement than scenic Moscow, Idaho. Unfortunately, her grades did not support this theory, and although she completed nearly four years of college, she never quite got over being a senior. Heidi loved sports and played basketball, soccer and softball. Those who saw her play basketball will remember her unique drive to the basket which is very hard to describe in words and worked best when the referees were looking the other way. Heidi had a passion for music, a passion which, unfortunately, tended to exceed her ability. She played the violin, took piano lessons, and played the guitar - in fact many guitars, going through them like toothpicks. She liked to sing and her boisterous voice was one that was easy to pick out from the crowd. Heidi's attractive looks and quick wit made her a "boy magnet", a quality she honed to perfection. Her family recalls her ordering her Marine boyfriend around Disneyland on a family vacation which apparently made him long to return to active duty where he didn't have to work so hard. Heidi's last years, unfortunately, were troubled and chaotic, as she battled unsuccessfully with substance abuse issues which eventually took her young life. During a very chaotic time, she discovered she was pregnant, and recognizing she would be unable to take care of a baby, she spent considerable time and effort trying to locate suitable parents for her unborn baby. Through fortuitous circumstances, she met Melissa and Greg Dickson, who had the courage to accept the yet unborn baby into their home, understanding that it was unlikely the baby would be healthy. Heidi gave birth to a beautiful but sick baby girl, and, for the good of the baby, allowed the Dicksons to adopt baby Makenna, who, fortunately recovered from her birth illness and is a happy healthy five-year-old girl with a mom and dad who love her very much. Unfortunately, Heidi suffered congestive heart failure as a result of giving birth, a condition from which she never recovered. Heidi is survived by her daughter, Makenna Dickson, her parents Bob and Lily Huntsman of Boise Idaho, three brothers Scott, Matt and Tim and a sister, Wendy. Funeral services will be held at the LDS Church at 12040 West Amity Road, Boise, Idaho, on Saturday, May 29th at 1 p.m.