Roberta Anne “Bobbi” Bodine passed away Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024. She was born to Hans and Mary Wetter on Jan. 6, 1948, in Orofino. She attended school in Orofino, and graduated from Capitol High School in Boise. She enjoyed living along the rivers and being able to spend her free time swimming and sunbathing on the warm beaches.
She attended the University of Idaho, receiving her undergraduate degree in creative writing. She returned to UI a year after her graduation and enrolled in Master of Fine Arts in Pottery. She met her husband David Bodine at college and they were married Dec. 13, 1968.
She and her family moved to Grangeville in June of 1976 to take over the family farm. Bobbi started her pottery business Bobbi Bodine Pottery in the family garage. She sold her pottery at art fairs from Boise to Sandpoint, locally at Tel-5 Gallery and out of her shop. In 1984, the family built a home on the farm and Bobbi built a pottery studio and moved her business to the farm. In 1989, the farm expanded its acreage, and her husband asked her if she would like to help put in the spring crop that year. Being an individual who loved to grow a large garden and flower beds she accepted the offer to try it on a larger scale. She always said that she enjoyed creating the patterns with implements in the moist soil of spring, as it was her very large canvas. She continued through harvest that year and into the fall planting and plowing. Over the next few years, she slowly phased out of pottery and into full-time faming. She took over the management of the small cattle herd the family had, working to improve the genetics, keeping an eye on the cows during calving and working in their cattle business. She started a newsletter for the local county cattle association which she did for several years. She also served on the USDA State Farm Service Agency committees for multiple years at the county and state levels.
She was active in Central Idaho Art Association. She filled her passion for education by serving 12 years on the school board for district 241 and later Mountain View 244, serving some of those years as chairperson of the board.
During her retirement her garden grew larger, and she added more flower beds. She enjoyed the trips she and her husband were able to take.
She is survived by her husband Dave, a son Timothy (Marnie) Bodine, granddaughter Shelby (Drew) Bodine, brother Nick (Loraine) Wetter, sister Melanie (Gary) Gibler, sister Stephanie Gress and a close friend Sooki Ingraham.
Bobbi requested that no service be held. Her family will be spreading her ashes at her favorite place. Blackmer Funeral Home of Grangeville is in charge of arrangements. Send condolences to the family at blackmerfuneralhome.com.
In lieu of flowers, please feel free to make a donation in her name to a charity of your choice.
