Norma Kinkade

1933 - 2022

Norma Kinkade
December 6, 1933 - September 30, 2022
Boise, Idaho - Norma Kinkade, heirloom gardener and naturalist, died peacefully the night of September 30th, surrounded by family.
Born December 6, 1933 in San Francisco, California, much of Norma's childhood was shaped by the Great Depression. Hardship made her resourceful, resilient and fiercely loyal to those she loved.
In the 1950s, she and her husband, Bob, moved to a home in Boise's North End, just steps from Camel's Back Park. The foothills would feature greatly as they raised their daughters MaryAnn and Joyce. For 66 years, Norma lived in that park-side home.
Norma's extensive knowledge of local plants led her to design a vibrant garden full of indigenous blooms. She especially enjoyed saving-and sharing-seeds. Each season, her neighbors, friends, and family received jars and envelopes full of seeds, complete with detailed information scrawled in Norma's elaborate cursive. She was equally captivated by her backyard pond.
After working at Washington Elementary School and the State of Idaho, Norma began wintering in Arizona. There, she and Bob served as BLM camp hosts, welcoming other "snowbirds" by organizing community dinners, outdoor excursions, and game nights.
While spending spring and summer in Boise, the same park that nurtured her daughters in childhood kept Norma strong and healthy after a bout with breast cancer and though retirement. For decades, Norma started her day with a hike up Camel's Back.
Norma will live on through her stories and the knowledge she shared. A celebration of Norma's life will be held at Camel's Back Park at 2 PM on October 30, 2022.