Cash Frank Mitchell, lovingly known as "Papa", passed away on August 31, 2025, at the age of 88, surrounded by family and friends in the great outdoors of Idaho City, Idaho. A devoted family man and true outdoorsman, Papa lived a life rooted in love, hard work, and respect for the land he cherished.
Born on January 31, 1937, to Walter and Mildred Mitchell, Cash grew up alongside his five siblings in a childhood filled with laughter, mischief, and adventure. From those early days, Mother Nature became his compass, a guiding force that shaped his spirit. Whether hunting, fishing, camping, or simply breathing in the mountain air, he found joy and peace in Idaho's wild beauty. Yet some of his happiest moments were the quiet ones, sitting on the patio, tossing a Frisbee with his faithful four-legged friend Jamie, and tending his garden with care, patience, and the occasional touch of frustration.
Cash was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 65 years, Frances, who passed in 2022. Together, they shared a lifetime of love, laughter, and unwavering partnership, building a family rooted in kindness, tradition, and devotion. This legacy of love will live on through every story, every memory, and in every heart they touched.
He is survived by his children, Christie (Terry) and Steven (Sheri); his grandchildren, Dustin (Erika) and Krista; and his great-grandchildren, Aubree, Maci, Alivia, Amilia, and Kenzie. To them, he was more than "Papa"-he was a teacher, a protector, the heart of the family, and a man of unshakable integrity. His stories, laughter, and steady guidance will be deeply missed, yet forever cherished.
A celebration of life will be held on October 4, 2025, at the family home in
Nampa, Idaho. Family and friends are invited to gather, share memories, laughter, and love, and honor him in the way he would have most cherished surrounded by those he loved, with hearts full of warmth and stories to carry forward.
Though his journey here on earth has ended, Papa's spirit lives on in the whisper of the trees, in the melody of the flowing rivers, in the twinkle of high-country reservoirs, and in the crack of a shotgun hitting clay under the wide-open Idaho sky. His spirit will forever be carried in the hearts of those who loved him.