07/10/1936 - 04/25/2025
Date of Service: May 30, 2025
Service Program
RUPERT – Sylvia Dean Neiwert, an 88-year-old resident of Rupert, passed away Friday, April 25, 2025, at Home & Heart Assisted Living in Burley, where she had resided for a little over one year. She was extremely loved and well taken care of during her final years on Earth.
Sylvia was born on July 10, 1936, in Burley, Idaho, to Claude and Ildra Bowman. She was welcomed into the world with open arms and joined her older sister, Claudeen Bowman (Clark). Sylvia attended Heyburn High School, where she graduated in 1954, and went on to secretarial school in Twin Falls, Idaho. High school was monumental as this is where she met the love of her life, Clarence Neiwert. Clarence and Sylvia dated throughout high school and eventually tied the knot on February 10, 1955. They were married for 66 wonderful years, during which they raised a family and shared many memories and adventures together. Clarence and Sylvia had three children: two daughters, Bonnie and Tammy; and one son, Lane. Sylvia was an amazing mother and homemaker; always making sure her family had home-cooked meals and that the house was kept in impeccable condition. In addition to her household duties, Sylvia also worked outside the home. She worked in banking for 13 years but eventually left to work at Magistrate Court, in Rupert, in 1975. It was here that she found a true passion and love for her position as Chief Deputy Clerk. She remained at Magistrate Court for 20 years where she eventually retired in 1995.
Retirement suited her well, but she kept very busy as she had many hobbies. Sylvia and Clarence maintained a vast garden that was extremely successful providing food for them throughout the years to come. Sylvia enjoyed canning vegetables from their garden and cooking home-made meals for her family. Sylvia took great pride in their garden and would enter raw vegetables, canning produce, and flowers in the Rupert fair every summer. She was a wonderful cook and baker and loved providing meals for everyone during family gatherings. There were always special baked treats as well, which everyone enjoyed very much. Sylvia was an amazing seamstress sewing countless clothes and dresses for her children and grandchildren throughout the years. She also made numerous blankets and Barbie clothes which are still being used by her great-grandchildren today. Sylvia could knit and crochet, as well, and enjoyed passing the time doing these things while she visited with others or to wind down in the evening. Sylvia had a love for playing cards and was part of a group that played weekly games of bridge. She also enjoyed playing pinochle but by far, her favorite game to play was gin, which she played during family gatherings. Sylvia and Clarence both taught their grandchildren how to play cards and loved nothing more than kicking their butts in a game of gin. Sylvia also enjoyed skiing, reading books, and doing puzzles. Sylvia was very talented; there was nothing that she was not good at and nothing she could not do or learn to do.
Sylvia and Clarence had a love for the outdoors and spent countless times enjoying the mountain air at their family cabin in Ketchum, Idaho. This was such a special place and provided a gathering spot for them to make endless memories with their children and grandchildren over the years. Much time was spent fishing, hiking, riding bikes and motorcycles, playing gin, and eating S’mores around the outside fire pit. This was their happy place and there was no place they would rather be than at the cabin, surrounded by family and nature.
Sylvia was a true American. Nothing made her prouder than to be an American. She would voice it loud and proud for everyone to hear. She loved wearing t-shirts with the American flag and her favorite holiday was the 4th of July. She loved this country and the freedom we enjoy every day.
Sylvia took great pride in her appearance and made sure that anytime she left the house she was made up. She used to iron all her clothes including bed sheets, and thought it was important to always look put together. She always had her face on and never left the house without her jewelry.
Sylvia enjoyed traveling and was able to do quite a bit it throughout her lifetime. Her favorite place to go was Hawaii and she would talk about her trips there often. She loved the ocean and palm trees and would never hesitate to go back given the chance. Although she enjoyed traveling, her favorite place to be was at home with Clarence. Family meant everything to Sylvia and it showed. She was the most loving, caring, and dedicated wife, mother and grandmother. She raised her children with love and taught them how to be respectful, dependable, hard-working, and productive members of society. She always made sure that everyone was well taken care of and would give out numerous hugs and kisses at all times. She never forgot to say “I love you” and would always tell us how proud she was of us for anything we did.
Sylvia was a born leader and took pride in everything she did. She was a very strong and independent woman and would never hesitate to tell you her opinion or how she felt about something. She was the glue that held our family together and the center of our universe. We cherished the time we got to spend with her on earth but hope that she has been reunited with her one true love. She will always be missed but will never be forgotten.
Sylvia is survived by her two daughters, Bonnie (Kim) Johnstone and Tammy French; as well as her grandchildren, Allen Neiwert, Kimber Porter, and Seneca Johnstone; and her great-grandchildren, Camie, Ava, Bennett and Bailey. She was preceded in death by her parents, Claude and Ildra Bowman; her sister, Claudeen Clark; her husband, Clarence Neiwert; her son, Lane Neiwert; and grandson, Jake Neiwert.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, May 30, at Rasmussen-Wilson Funeral Home, located at 1350 E. 16th St., in Burley, with Pastor T.J. Jackson officiating. There will be a luncheon to follow the service at the Rupert Methodist church, located at 605 H. Street in Rupert, Idaho. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Minidoka County Senior Center at 702 11th Street Rupert, Idaho 83350.
We would like to express our deepest appreciation to Home & Heart for all their love and care they showed Sylvia. We would also like to thank Intermountain Home Health and Hospice, as well as Minidoka Memorial Hospital for their services.
