Leah Ruth Potter

Leah Ruth Potter passed away April 20, 2023 surrounded by her family after a courageous fight against several different ailments.

Born March 20, 1953 in Ashton, Idaho, her and her siblings were raised by their beloved mother Grace Hilmer.

During her time at American Falls High School, she was heavily involved in academics and student government. Her debate team won many competitions. Education and learning were two very important aspects of her life. After high school, she earned an academic scholarship to BYU Provo. Her infectious personality and quick wit made people gravitate to her. When she wasn’t skiing, she was studying marine biology.

After graduating college, she began working for the United States Postal Service. There she met her husband Rick and married, raising two sons, Clark and Alex.

Shortly after her children were born, she was diagnosed with primary biliary cirrhosis of the liver, meaning eventually she would need a liver transplant in order to survive. This news didn’t deter her resolve, as after her children were off to school she went back to college to become a teacher. She was hired as a teacher at Irving Middle School, teaching science.

A year after starting teaching at Irving Middle School, her liver had failed to such an extent that a transplant was needed soon. Miraculously, while in a coma, her family received the news that the University Hospital in Denver, Colorado had found a donor liver that would match her body.

After the recovery Leah went back to teaching at Irving Middle School, despite the fact that in those days transplant recipients usually were not able to go back to work. Her quirky humor and devotion to her classes made her a hit with the students, even making her popular with students that didn’t have her as a teacher. Eventually her health problems became too much to deal with so she retired from teaching.

Leah’s retired life was spent reading countless novels and collecting books by her favorite authors. She loved her two Ragdoll cats, Pyewacket and Isabella, and her rescue cat from the Pocatello Animal Shelter, Cleo. She spent countless hours in the yard gardening, making sure every detail of her yard was perfect.

Her sons Clark and Alex, and her husband Rick devoted their lives to helping her maintain her health. Leah endured many medical issues throughout her life, but she always did so courageously, happy to have more time with her family. No matter what she was going through, she never complained.

Leah is survived by her husband Rick, her son Clark, her son Alex (Kindy, and their daughter Teagan), and her sister Carla (John). She was preceded in death by her mother Grace, her brother Gary (Katie), and her sister Marianne (Joel). She loved being a grandmother to Teagan.

In lieu of flowers, Leah would prefer donations be sent to the Friends of the Pocatello Animal Shelter. Also, please consider becoming an organ donor so you can give other people more time with their families, as her family is very grateful for all the extra years.

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