Kaiya Sam Hosteen

BURLEY – Kaiya Sam Hosteen, 25, of Burley, Idaho, passed away peacefully on September 2, 2026, at her home, surrounded by her family after a courageous battle with cancer.

Kaiya was born June 5, 2001, in Burley, Idaho, to Walter Leo and Linda Beth (Thompson) Hosteen. She graduated from Burley High School with the Class of 2019.

Kaiya was thee baby sister to three older brothers. She was feisty, loving, thoughtful, stubborn when she needed to be, and wonderfully blunt. She was also, by many accounts, the favorite grandchild, and she would probably want that included in writing. Kaiya had an incredible ability to notice the little things about people. She remembered what they liked, what mattered to them, and somehow always knew the perfect gift. Everyone wanted Kaiya to draw their name for the family Christmas gift exchange.

Growing up, Kaiya danced at En Pointe studio and played basketball, volleyball, and tennis. As she got older, her interests expanded considerably. She became a traveler, an event planner, a movie connoisseur, a karaoke enthusiast, a fierce card player and Mario Party competitor, and a pro at retail therapy. Her movie list could make any film critic blush, and few things made her happier than crossing off another movie from her list.

Kaiya had a gift for making people feel celebrated. Birthdays and special occasions meant personalized banners, decorations, and her famous decorated cakes, thoughtfully designed for the person being celebrated. She didn't just give presents; she paid attention to people, and that thoughtfulness showed in everything she did.

Some of the best memories with Kaiya came from family adventures and traditions: trips to Bear Lake with the paddle boards, family vacations, games around the table, and the questionable tradition of jumping into the Snake River at Thanksgiving. She loved to travel and took every opportunity she could to experience somewhere new.

To her nieces and nephews, she was Aunt Kai Kai. She was the kind of aunt who loved fiercely and wasn't afraid to be stern when necessary. She wanted the very best for them, noticed the smallest details about their lives, spoiled them thoughtfully, and loved them immensely.

But she wasn't only Aunt Kai Kai. To many children at White Pine Elementary School, she was Miss Kaiya. Kaiya worked as a paraeducator, where her students quickly found a place in her heart. She loved those kids—and frequently wanted to take them home and adopt them. Before cancer changed the direction of her life, Kaiya had even begun looking into becoming a foster parent. Her love for children and her desire to make sure they were cared for were simply part of who she was.

Kaiya was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and had a testimony of Jesus Christ. She served faithfully in her church callings—whether she particularly liked the calling or not. Her faith remained an important part of her life throughout circumstances that tested her in ways few people her age should ever have to experience.

Labor Day weekend of 2022 changed Kaiya's life when, at just 21 years old, she was diagnosed with kidney cancer. What followed was a four-year battle filled with countless medical appointments, procedures, treatments, hospital visits, and an ever changing medication list seemingly a mile long.

But cancer is not the story of Kaiya's life.

If anything, those four years showed just how determined Kaiya was to live while she was dying.

Kaiya did not want to die, she wanted to live. She wanted to love and be loved. She traveled. She went to concerts. She planned events. She went to the movies. She attended hockey games and cheered for the Colorado Avalanche, a love she inherited from her dad. She spent time with her family. She celebrated birthdays and holidays. She bought gifts. She made memories. And whenever she could, she found another experience to look forward to.

Cancer took many things from Kaiya, but she refused to willingly give it the years she still had.

Kaiya is survived by her mother, Linda Beth Hosteen; her three older brothers, Jordan Mychal (Kaylee) Hosteen, Cody William Robert (Carolee) Hosteen, and Brandon Dylan (Brooklyn) Hosteen; her nephews, Walter Boone Hosteen, Jed Walker Hosteen, and Walter Kyle Hosteen; her nieces, Florence Beck Hosteen and Esther Hosteen; her paternal grandmother, Elouise Rose Hosteen; as well as numerous extended family members and friends who loved her dearly.

She was preceded in death by her father, Walter Leo Hosteen; her grandparents, Robert Henry and Sara Beth Thompson; and her grandfather, Willie Hosteen.

Kaiya's family wishes to express their heartfelt gratitude to the community of Burley for the extraordinary amount of love and support shown to Kaiya and her family throughout the last four years. The meals, fundraisers, messages, prayers, acts of service, and countless other expressions of kindness will never be forgotten.

The family also wishes to express their profound gratitude to Dr. Walter Graham for the exceptional care, compassion, and friendship he provided Kaiya throughout her illness. To have a physician who cared so deeply not only for Kaiya as a patient, but for Kaiya as a person, was an immeasurable blessing to her and her family. Thank you for being the one to do this with us, again.

The family extends their sincere appreciation to the many medical professionals who cared for Kaiya, particularly the physicians, nurses, emergency department staff, Dr. Graham’s staff, and other caregivers at Cassia Regional Hospital, as well as the hospice professionals who helped care for Kaiya and her family during her final days.

Finally, there is one last request from Kaiya that should not surprise anyone who knew her:

If you are attending her services, Kaiya expects you to dress your absolute best.

This is not the occasion to play it safe. Think sparkly pink gowns, velvet suits, and anything else fabulous enough to earn Kaiya's approval.

The funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, September 12, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - Burley Idaho West Stake Center, located at 2420 Parke Avenue in Burley, with Bishop Darin J. Moon officiating. Burial will follow at Pleasant View Cemetery in Burley.

Family and friends will be received from 5 until 7 p.m. Friday, September 11, at Rasmussen-Wilson Funeral Home, 1350 East 16th Street, in Burley, and from 12:30 until 1:45 p.m. Saturday, preceding the funeral, at the church.

A live webcast of the Funeral Service will be available and maintained at the following link: https://youtu.be/9zPvrt6NJpY.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made toward the purchase of a piece of playground equipment to be dedicated in Kaiya’s memory at White Pine Elementary School, where she worked and found great joy in spending time with the children. It is our hope that this playground equipment will provide years of laughter, friendship, and cherished memories for the children she loved so dearly. Donations can be made at White Pine Elementary PTO (dropped off at White Pine) or by scanning the QR code.

Click Here to donate to the Memorial for Miss Kaiya.