The following obituaries and death notices appeared in the January 15, 2025 edition of the Star Valley Independent.
For more area obituaries, please visit Schwab Mortuary.
For more resources including headstones, please visit the Star Valley Historical Society.
Jennifer Giese

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Jennifer Giese at the age of 77.
Jennifer and her husband Robert retired from their careers and came to Star Valley in the late 90s. They fell in love with the area and made it their permanent home.
Jennifer was active in the community, serving as Republican precinct chair and board member of Friends of the Library.
Jennifer had a passion for animals, reading, and music.
She used her musical talents as a professional singer, and she sang with a local choral group.
Jennifer was quick-witted and loved a good game of trivia, which she usually won.
She had many friends in the community who truly loved her, and she will be deeply missed.
As per Jennifer’s wishes there will not be a funeral or memorial service.
Donations can be made to the charity of your choice.
Anita Harmon

Anita Potter Harmon (85) wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother left this life on January 4, 2025. She was surrounded by family, friends and neighbors. We celebrate her reunion with Lyman, her husband of 62 years.
Anita was born September 20, 1939, in Afton, Lincoln County, Wyoming. She was the first of six children born to Walter and Euella Clark Potter. Anita spent her first 19 years in Smoot, then moved to Fairview when she married Lyman on June 4, 1958. Anita spent the rest of her life in Fairview, and loved the ward and neighbors.
Anita’s membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was important to her. Lyman and Anita were sealed in the Logan Temple June 24, 2000 and Anita was so proud of Lyman as he served at the recommend desk in the Star Valley Temple. Anita served in the Fairview Relief Society presidency, primary/scouting, Girl’s Camp and Young Women’s ball teams, and visiting teacher. She was the Fairview Ward Historian and served as member/historian of Fairview Cemetery Board from 1989 until present. Lyman and Anita were excellent dutch oven cooks, providing meals for many ward/family events.
Anita worked as the main secretary for Star Valley High school for 36 years. During that time, she also coached the girls freshman basketball team, was assistant coach for both girls varsity basketball and volleyball, and cheerleader advisor. Anita took great pride in her work at the school. She was meticulous and everything ran like clockwork, especially ball tournaments and graduations. She made sure faculty and students knew their place and nothing was left to chance.
Anita may be best known for her home and amazing yard. Many garden clubs visited over the years and she loved trying new things. She was actively mowing, weeding and taking care of everything until the time of her death.
Lyman and Anita raised two sons, two daughters and followed nine grandchildren in all their sports and activities. Her favorite things were always family first. Gardening, birdwatching and reading. She loved watching selected sports, especially the Utah Jazz and Olympics. She was a master seamstress-sewing many costumes and decorations. Her quilts and crocheted afghans for family and friends were painstakingly perfect and shared with love.
Anita is survived by her sons Cody Lyman Harmon and Kelly W Harmon (Laurie). Daughters Jodi Rae Larkin and Machelle Lancaster (Travis). Nine grandchildren, Kylie, Kelsey, Colter, Katie, Megan, Clayton, Luke, Casey, and Chloe. 12 great grandchildren with 1 on the way. Sister Iris Hillstead (Richard) and brothers Ron Potter (Gayla) and Von Potter (Susan) Sister-in law Ione Potter (Ernest) She was preceded in death by her husband Lyman, parents Walter and Euella, brothers Ernest and Don.
The hearts of her family are broken but we know she is happy and with Lyman.
Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, January 18, 2025 at 12 Noon in the Fairview Ward chapel.
A viewing will be held on Friday, January 17 from 6-8 p.m. at Schwab Mortuary and on Saturday, January 18 from 10-11:45 a.m. prior to the service at the church.
Veda Cottam

Veda JoAnn Wilkinson Cottam, a beloved sister, wife, mother, grandmother, and friend, passed away peacefully in her Chubbuck, Idaho, home on Sunday, January 5 th, 2025, surrounded by her family and loved ones. She was 83 years old. Known for her strength, grace, and creativity, JoAnn’s warmth and love left a lasting impression on all who knew her.
JoAnn was born on October 25, 1941, in Washington, D.C., to Lorraine and Wells Wilkinson, the eldest of nine children. As a child, she performed musical numbers alongside her brothers and sisters in the Salt Lake Valley and beyond, becoming a well-known presence at state fairs and radio and TV commercials.
After graduating from high school in Walnut Creek, California, JoAnn attended Brigham Young University, where she fell in love with Stephen Melville Cottam. They married on June 18, 1964, and built a life filled with love and adventure, raising six children while living in Salt Lake City, Denver, Osborne, Idaho, and Bountiful Utah. Tragically, JoAnn lost her father shortly after her marriage, and while raising her own family, JoAnn took on the additional responsibility of mentoring her younger siblings.
JoAnn excelled professionally as a highly skilled paralegal. The pinnacle of her career was serving as the administrative assistant to two Utah Supreme Court Justices for many years (Durant and Zimmerman). After retiring from the Utah Supreme Court staff, JoAnn continued her education and dedication to the legal community as a University of Utah certified mediator. JoAnn’s artistic talents were equally remarkable; she was a gifted vocalist, pianist, actress, and seamstress, making scores of costumes for young dancers and quilts for grandchildren and loved ones. JoAnn cherished outdoor adventures, camping, and travel with family.
Six years after her beloved Stephen passed unexpectedly, JoAnn married Melvin “Mel” Holmes, with whom she enjoyed retirement in Ogden, Utah, and Cheyenne, Wyoming, until Mel passed in 2011. In 2017, JoAnn reunited with her high school prom date, Kyle Westover. They married and further enjoyed retirement together in Salt Lake City until Kyle passed in 2021.
JoAnn was preceded in death by her eternal companion, Stephen Melville Cottam, her daughter, Linnea Cottam DelHoyo, and her grandson, Jamison Murtha Cottam. JoAnn is survived by her five sons and their spouses: Wayne (Marie) Dale (Tamara), Sterling (Jennifer), Nathan (Traci), Bryce (Heidi), and her son-in-law, Jason DelHoyo. JoAnn is also survived by twenty-two grandchildren: Malynne, Brianna, Chandler, Jayna, Kenton, Olivia, Orion, Bradford, Zaden, Bronson, Stephen, Savannah, Alexa, Gavin, Aunika, Jaqueline, Linnea LaPrele, Ainslee, Boston, Brogan and Meadow. JoAnn is also survived by three great-grandchildren, Adelaide, Jamison, and Matteo. JoAnn is survived by her eight siblings and spouses: Stephen (Patricia), David (Kristine), Emily (Larry), Marsha, Karen, Neil (Susan), Janice (Greg) and Rachel.
A funeral service will be held on January 14, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located at 450 James Ave., Chubbuck, Idaho, with a viewing from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. JoAnn will be laid to rest on January 15 at 10:00 am at Wasatch Lawn Cemetery in Holladay, Utah. Arrangements are entrusted to Red Rose Funeral Home, 56 S State Street, Preston, ID 83263. 208-254-7866, www.redrosefuneral.com
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in JoAnn’s honor to the En Avant School of Dance or the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
Bruce Hanson

Bruce J. Hanson passed away January 3, 2025 at his home in New Albany, MS.
Bruce was born March 1, 1935, in Afton, Wyoming to Oril (Sonny) Hanson and Elva Barbara Jenkins Hanson.
While attending High School in Afton, Bruce joined the Civil Air Patrol. Upon graduation he joined the Air Force and went to Parks AFB in California for Basic Training and Air Police School and was stationed in Guam. He re-inlisted for Lakenheath USAF Base in England. While stationed in England, he married Jerolyn Huffaker and brought her to England with him.
After being discharged from the Air Force the family returned to Salt Lake City, Utah where Bruce attended Trade Technical College. He then moved the family to Tooele, Utah and worked construction for Tom Wood and later Byron Liddell.
In 1966, Bruce took a position on the Guard Force on the Tooele Army Depot. He then moved on to Blocker and Bracer and then a Crater and then to the Carpenter and Furniture Shop. 1979 Bruce was promoted to a Construction Representative over Engineering. It was a great job for him in that he loved the work and it showcased his skills and knowledge. Bruce retired from the Depot in 1991.
Bruce loved construction and building. He enjoyed remodeling older homes and finishing off basements. He built two of his own homes in Tooele and his retirement home in Bedford, Wyoming. He could always be found out in his carpenter shop building things and helping neighbor kids and Boy Scouts with their projects.
One of Bruce’s greatest passions was traveling. He built a camper and was always loading up for adventure on the road. He traveled through most of the United States, Guam, England, Egypt and Israel.
Bruce was an active member in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was baptized in the Salt River in 1943. He was an Elder in the Melchizedek Priesthood and was always available to help and served in many positions over the years. Bruce was sealed to his first wife Jerolyn in the Salt Lake Temple and after her passing, he remarried and was sealed to Claudine in the Idaho Falls Temple. In addition to working as Initiatory Workers at the Idaho Falls Temple, Bruce and Claudine served on a mission to Martin’s Cove, Wyoming. Then later went on a second mission to England, using his skills and background to remodel and update houses and property bought by the Church.
Bruce was very active in the Boy Scouts of America for over 30 years. He served as Scoutmaster of Troop 203 out of the 13th Ward in Tooele. He loved camping, exploring, jamborees and activities with the Scouts. In addition to the many adventures and lasting friendships, Bruce won the “District Award for Merit” and the distinguished “Silver Beaver Award”. While on his mission in England, he helped set up their Scouting program and was put in as 2nd Counselor in the Young Men’s Presidency.
Over the years, Bruce maintained his friendship with George Ricker whom he served with in Guam. George was a Native American of the Assiniboine Tribe on the Ft. Peck Indian Reservation near Poplar, Montana. Bruce would make a trip from Tooele to Poplar at least once a year. He would hit thrift stores and bakeries, load up the truck and trailer with supplies and goods to take up to the tribe. He became great friends with many tribal members and participated in the annual “Oil Days Celebration”. He was one of only two white people adopted by the tribe, and given the name “Chief’s Helping Hand”.
Bruce was preceded in death by his first wife Jerolyn Huffaker Hanson, wife Claudine Rosenkrantz Hanson and a step son Jesse (Dawnie) McPherron.
He is survived by sons, Mark Hanson, David (Carey) Hanson and Richard Hanson. Step children Steve (Jill) McPherron, Rob McPherron and Tami (Jeff) Kemp, as well as many grandkids, nieces and nephews.
A viewing will be held from 6-8 on January 16, 2025 at Schwab Funeral Home in Thayne, Wyoming. Burial will be in the Freedom Cemetery.