Carol Ann Broadie

Carol Ann Broadie, 82, passed away in the early morning hours of Dec. 13, 2025, in Kingman, Arizona, at Kingman Regional Medical Center.

Carol was born Feb. 22, 1943, in Hailey, Idaho, to Albert and Lucille Johnson. She had a happy childhood in Hailey, growing up alongside her older siblings, Arlene and Denny, and her little sister, Susie.

As a young girl, Carol loved baton twirling, jumping rope, singing, playing the piano, riding her bike through town, and immersing herself in big books. At just 14, she devoured “Gone With the Wind,” always claiming it was the best book she had ever read.

As a teenager, she was a cheerleader at Hailey High School and an active member of Job’s Daughters. She worked at the soda fountain at Broyles Pharmacy in Hailey, serving up ice-cream cones, coffee and Cokes.

At just 17 years old, Carol altered the date on her birth certificate to legal marriage age and eloped with Simon Lete, a handsome Basque man from Bellevue, Idaho. They were married on July 23, 1960, in Boise. They had two children, Daniel and Lisa, making their home in Bellevue, where she was a homemaker.

Carol’s life was rocked on April 7, 1965, when Simon was tragically killed while working at the Silver Star Queens Mine in Bellevue.

True to the resilient spirit that defined her, she soldiered on and moved with her children to Twin Falls to attend business school.

A few years later, Carol met K Broadie, a strapping young man from Picabo, Idaho, newly home from serving in the U.S. Navy. They fell in love and were married in Twin Falls on Jan. 26, 1968.

After living briefly in Arco, they settled in Pocatello in the late 1960s. They had two daughters, Michelle and Julianna, completing their family of four children.

Carol and K raised their family first on Buckskin Road in Pocatello, then made their longtime home on Marsh Creek Road between Inkom and McCammon in the late 1970s. Besides kids, both homes came with dogs, cats, horses, cows, chickens, and other critters, where there was never a dull moment.

When the children were young, Carol enjoyed spending time outdoors with her family, camping and fishing in the Idaho Sawtooths, snowmobiling, snow skiing, and water skiing alongside K.

She never lost her love of reading and also enjoyed ceramics and playing pinochle in her card club for many years with some of her dearest friends, whom she affectionately called her “card ladies.”

Carol enjoyed gambling in Jackpot, Laughlin, and Las Vegas and was often lucky at the blackjack table and slot machines.

A great cook, Carol’s sourdough pancakes and homemade chokecherry syrup made from berries the family picked together on Buckskin were the best. At Christmastime, the family looked forward to her homemade fudge, divinity, and caramel popcorn balls.

She knew every nursery rhyme, children’s song, and fairy tale, which she taught to her children and grandchildren. Her son-in-law, Todd, joked that she must be Mother Goose.

Throughout her career, Carol worked primarily in the credit and banking industry. She was one of the first tellers at Downey State Bank in Inkom, which later became Ireland Bank, where she eventually retired.

Carol also worked briefly at the Village Mart in Inkom and at Flying J in McCammon. She was well-liked in the community, becoming a familiar and friendly face to many over the years.

In her mid-50s, Carol was diagnosed with breast cancer, and her prognosis at the time was grim. Though she was terrified and facing the possibility of a mastectomy, her signature humor still shone through. She joked, “Well, if Playboy hasn’t called me by now, they’re probably not going to.”

After a hard-fought battle, Carol’s cancer went into remission, returning about 12 years later. Once again, she fought—and won—going on to enjoy many more years with her husband, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

These were not the only times Carol cheated death. She nearly lost her life while giving birth to her daughter, Julianna, and survived a widowmaker heart attack in 2015. She was tough and remarkably resilient.

After Carol and K both retired, they became snowbirds, spending the winter in Arizona. They eventually moved there permanently in 2009 after purchasing and refurbishing a home in the serene Golden Valley desert, where they grew lemon and pomegranate trees.

They enjoyed four-wheeling through the Arizona terrain, taking trips to Las Vegas, traveling, especially their yearly trips to Mexico, and entertaining neighbors, friends, and family who came to visit.

Carol got a kick out of watching the donkeys, birds, and other desert creatures, even naming some of the roadrunners who learned to stop by for a treat.

Carol treasured her family and especially loved being a grandmother to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, giving each of them an affectionate nickname and making holidays, birthdays, and other milestones extra special.

She took genuine joy in watching her children and grandchildren grow and pursue their interests, always eager to hear how trips or events had gone and calling to make sure they had arrived safely. She was fortunate to share a loving relationship with her great-grandchildren, a bond that brought her great happiness.

Despite enduring some of life’s cruelest blows, including the loss of her daughter, Michelle, Carol met each adversity with courage, grit, and an unbreakable spirit. In later years, she also faced significant health challenges, the worst being the loss of her vision. She remained cheerful and funny, continuing to enjoy life and travel, and to cherish time spent with family and friends.

Carol is survived by her husband of nearly 58 years, K, who loved and cared for her throughout their life together, especially during her health challenges and after she lost her vision.

She is also survived by her children, Daniel (Becky) Lete, Lisa Lete-Melton, and Julianna (Todd) Fitch; ten grandchildren, Marie, Brittney, Brody, Forrest, Hank, Trey, Spencer, Chase, Aleea, and Tiel; nine great-grandchildren, Hayden, Aspen, Steele, Ryder, Brynlee, Shaylee, Gracie, Brexon, and Theo; her brother, Denny; her sister, Susie; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, in-laws, and lifelong friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Simon Lete; her daughter, Michelle Huseby; her great-grandson, Daxton Fitch; and her sister, Arlene Smith.

Carol left this world knowing how deeply she was loved by her family and friends, leaving behind precious memories that will last a lifetime. Her passing creates an immense emptiness in the hearts of those close to her. Yet she would be the first to remind us not to linger in grief, but to move forward and embrace life.

A celebration of Carol’s life will be held in Idaho next summer. Details will be announced at a later date.