Marjorie Edith Lash Minshew, 98, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Monday, January 24, 2022 in Rancho Mirage, CA.
She was born on October 14, 1923 to Holmes Griffin Lash and Mabel Ellen Brown Lash, in Cashmere, WA. They later moved to Twin Falls, Idaho. She attended Colorado State Women’s College and Idaho State College. After college, she returned to Twin Falls, where she met the love of her life, Robert Perry Minshew. They were married in Twin Falls, on January 6, 1949. They remained in Twin Falls for many years before moving to Elko, NV to open a dairy distributorship for Meadow Gold Dairies. Years later, they sold the distributorship, moved to Ketchum, Idaho for a brief period and then moved to Salt Lake City, UT to become the first licensee of Sizzler Family Steakhouses. Their first restaurant opened on Friday, December 13, 1963. Marj worked side-by-side with her husband and successfully opened several more locations over the next few years. Although they stepped aside and turned over the business to their oldest son, Robert Neal, Sizzling Platter is today, a very successful restaurant management company, operating several restaurant concepts throughout the United States and Mexico.
Marj and Bob, returned to Ketchum, Idaho, where they lived for many years. They enjoyed traveling around the country in their motorhome with the Newell Jewells. When not in their motorhome, they divided time between their homes in Ketchum, Idaho, Cathedral City, CA and Waianae, Hawaii. It has often been said that they traveled, “where the weather suited their clothes.” For health reasons, they sold their home in Ketchum, Idaho and built a home in Silverton, Oregon. They continued to travel and spend time in Oregon, California and Hawaii.
Throughout her life, Marj developed a love of travel, golf and skiing. She loved to entertain and her greatest joy was her family. Whenever her children and grandkids showed up at any of her homes, she had it decked out with holiday décor and special treats. She made the best muffins and her “famous” cheesecake became the standard to which all other cheesecake is compared, to this day. She welcomed everyone into the Minshew home. To her, family was not just blood relatives. All who spent time with the family were considered part of the family. Break ups, and divorces never stood in the way of anyone being welcomed as a guest in her home.
Marj lost the love of her life in 1996. She continued to travel and spend time in Oregon, California, Hawaii and Idaho. She was always ready to hop in her 40’ motorhome or climb aboard a plane to go on adventures with her friends and family. On one trip with the whole clan to Newport Beach, she was leading the pack down the boardwalk. Her grandkids were having a hard time keeping up. Despite being a whopping 4’11”, she could move quickly. This was the result of many years keeping up with her husband. On this occasion, her granddaughter, Hannah, stated, “Look at Grandma go, she must have kicked in the turbo.” From this point forward, that was her nickname, Turbo Grandma.
Marj loved to share a glass of wine with family and friends and also the occasional martini. On one of her travels with friends, she called and left a voicemail that simply said, “Count your olives.” She later clarified that this was so you knew how many martinis you had.
In 2015, Marj joined her son, Buster and his family on a trip to Jacksonville Beach, FL for Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving Day was spent watching the sun rise on the beach and then riding bikes throughout the various beach communities. The next morning everything changed as she had a massive stroke and spent the next month in hospital, in Florida. The doctor’s prognosis was that she would never walk or talk again, and she would likely need a feeding tube for the rest of her remaining years. They saw a typical 92-year-old woman, but did not know Turbo was a fighter. While the stroke robbed her of her speech and the use of most of her right side, she did walk again, she did not need the feeding tube and regained some of her ability to talk. She spent the next six years in an assisted living facility in Rancho Mirage, CA. where she made many friends and enjoyed the company of a wonderful community. She would still make the trip to spend time in Idaho and Oregon, whenever possible.
Throughout her life she was a positive force. Always smiling and happy, regardless of the circumstances, she maintained her wonderful spirit to the very end.
Marj was preceded in death by her parents, Holmes and Mabel Lash, her husband, Robert P. Minshew, her stepdaughter and best friend, Nola Parkinson, and stepson, Robert N. Minshew and step-grandson, Robert Michael Minshew and nephew Michael Holmes Lash. She is survived by her brother, William R. Lash, her two children, Marjorie Ellen “Punkin” Minshew McGihon (Jon), William Lash “Buster” Minshew (Gretchen), and stepdaughter Linda Sue Morrison (Earl). Marj is also survived by her nine grandchildren, Whitney Anne Owens, Zachary Chad Minshew (Lindsey), Hannah Helen Mabel Minshew, James Oscar Woodruff Minshew, Miles Griffin Anderson Minshew, Calvin John Wheat, Ian Robert Wheat, Patrick Wade McGihon, and Ellen Elizabeth-Grace McGihon. In addition, Marj is survived by step-grandchildren, Penny Parkinson Day (Mike), Shannon Montoya (Lem), Fred Parkinson, Polly Parkinson Briscoe (Dan), Nicole Parkinson Winnen (Jared), Ron Spencer (Carrie), Jennifer Carini (Paolo) and John Kennedy “Jack” Minshew and numerous great-grandchildren. She also leaves behind many dear friends who were family to her.
A private graveside service was held at the Twin Falls Cemetery on February 3rd, where she was laid to rest next to her husband, mother and father. In lieu of flowers, pour yourself a glass of wine and love your family and friends. This is what made Marj happy.