Dama Wildig Overstreet

Dama Wildig Overstreet was born in San Mateo, CA on October 31, 1938 to Vera and A’Lee Wildig. Her name is often mis-pronounced so it is Dāma, long A, just like Dana except with an M. She spent her whole life correcting it. After returning to the Willamette Valley, OR, the family, including a second daughter, Julie, moved to Boise and began their love of all things Boise and the fixing up of old homes during their formative years. When the girls were young, Lee and Vera bought a farm in southeast Boise and began their adventure in farming and raising livestock. The stories of the horses, chickens and especially the pigs were epic and enjoyed throughout all our childhood. Vera and her mother, Meme, looked after the farm and family while Lee solidified his relationships with farmers and ranchers throughout Southwest Idaho. After having enough fun with the farm, Vera and Lee moved the girls to downtown Boise, establishing the Wildig Apartments in the heart of historic Boise and setting up the family to thrive in the property management and real estate business. Dama and Julie were notoriously fierce supporters of one another. No two sisters had more fun and love for one another. The stories about the farm and eventually the Wildig Apartments would have us all laughing and rolling on the floor at family get-togethers.

Dama attended Lowell elementary school, North Junior High and Boise High School, where she excelled in journalism and, well, basically everything. She began attending Boise Junior College and eventually transferred to the University of Idaho where she became a member of the Pi Beta Phi Sorority. She was one of the very first women to graduate from the U of I in Accounting, setting the stage for many firsts as a pioneer for women in business. She worked for several accounting firms and honed her skills as a shrewd business woman.

Dama married Robert D. Overstreet in 1961 and welcomed their son, Robert S. in 1962 and their daughter, Mary, in 1966. They bought a beautiful Victorian home on State Street and started their passion of “house flipping” before it became popular. Over the years, Dama and her sister Julie wallpapered most of east and north Boise and became staunch proponents of historic preservation. We often spent weekends cleaning and preparing our homes for the Historic Home Tours as fundraisers for the Idaho Historical Society.

After divorcing in the early 80’s, Dama began a new career in real estate. She became the Executive Director of what eventually became the Ada County Association of Realtors and now is the Boise Regional Realtors. When she first started, there were few regulations or education opportunities for realtors and they still used paper books for listings. She was the association’s longest-serving executive in its history, leading from 1980-2003. She oversaw the creation of the REALTORS® Community Foundation in 1995, which has donated more than $1.8 million in grants throughout the community since its inception. She facilitated a partnership with the Idaho Statesman to do community outreach. ACAR’s Community Outreach Committee worked diligently to bring services to many organizations and underserved community members. She facilitated the name change from Boise Board of REALTORS® to the Ada County Association of REALTORS® in 1996. In 2000, she managed the purchase of and the move to a new association office which was paid off a few years later, and it was dedicated to her after she retired.

She was a proponent of progress and specialized in breaking norms. When Dama started at the Boise Board of Realtors in the ‘80’s, she began her journey developing and expanding an organization that would soon become a large influence in Idaho both economically and politically. The Realtor’s Association had a tremendous influence on the state legislature because of its lobbying efforts. Through her leadership with the Boise Board of Realtors (BBR), then the Ada County Association of Realtors (ACAR) she was able to introduce tools to help Realtors excel at their jobs, beginning with the Multiple Listing Service starting with a twice monthly printed listing book and eventually facilitated the technology that would come to be used by real estate professionals across the state.

In her capacity as the Executive Officer, she served on many different boards and non-profits to help guide those organizations including the National Association of Realtors. She met many lifelong friends who respected her as the strong, honest and independent leader who worked hard to further those professional organizations, such as The Capital City Development Corporation, Better Business Bureau, National Association of Realtors to name a few.

Dama was passionate about raising women up. She was a proponent of education for women, adult education, women’s rights and affordable housing. She was on the board of Boise Neighborhood Housing (now NeighborWorks Boise) and helped establish several affordable housing communities throughout the Treasure Valley. She also gave her time to the Boise Junior League and the BJL Sustainers. She loved volunteering for women and children’s organizations. The family contributed recipes to several BJL cookbooks.

She would encourage us to join her at marches at the statehouse and drilled equality into our souls. She always told us, “Stand up for everyone’s rights. Because the next rights they come for just might be yours.” She was fair but firm. She would fight for you to the end, but you never wanted to cross her.

Upon her retirement, she spent her time with friends, passionately knitting and crocheting, attending book clubs and loving grandchildren. She was active with her Boise High School friends and her friends at Saturday Fortnightly, where she was an Honorary Member and had belonged to the group since 2004.

Dama was known as the bionic woman. She suffered horribly with arthritis, having endured multiple joint replacements and unfortunately it was her downfall. She was preceded in death by her loving parents, Vera and A’Lee Wildig and her long time partner Earl F. (Bud) Doering. She is survived by her loving sister, Julie and both her children, Bob (Kristen) and Mary (Rick) and grandchildren, William (Max), Emma, Olivia, Ethan, Simon, Stephen and Melanie.

Dama would be so appreciative if any donations made in her honor, be made to Leap Housing (1220 S. Vista Ave., Boise, ID 83705), where her daughter is hoping to continue her working in providing dignified, affordable housing throughout Idaho.

A celebration of life will be held on October 30, Noon - 4:00 at the River Club Golf Club located at 6515 W State St, Boise, ID 83714. Please join us for a “half glass of wine” to celebrate a wonderful woman.