Donna Lee Pottenger 62 longtime St. Maries area resident died May 20, 2011 at the home of her son Troy Pottenger's, near Harrison, Idaho following an extended and courageous battle with cancer. She was born March 13, 1949 to Gene and Barbara Salsbury Gabert at Wendell, ID. Her early years in life were spent at King Hill, Idaho where she attended school in the Glenn's Ferry School District. She moved with her family to New Meadows, ID in 1965 and graduated from New Meadows High School with the class of 1967. Following graduation, she attended the Univ. of Idaho before moving to Boise, ID where she went to work for a bank. She married Bruce Pottenger on March 15, 1969. She and Bruce lived in McCall and New Meadows, ID before moving to Riggins, ID. Living at Riggins, she raised her sons Troy and Rob and worked as a teacher's aide and drove school bus. She moved to Santa, ID in 1982 where she and Bruce operated a small ranch while Bruce logged and Donna worked for the school district. Her husband was killed in a logging accident in 1987. She returned to the Univ. of Idaho and received her B.S. Degree in Education in 1991. She then went to work for the St. Maries School District as a special education teacher at the UpRiver School. She worked at Heyburn Elementary before taking a position at St. Maries High School. She married Tom Vesey in 1992 and they were later divorced. She returned to teaching at the UpRiver School until illness forced her retirement last year. She was involved in all activities of her children and her grandchildren. Her special interests included horseback riding, boating, and snowmobiling. She showed her horses for over 30 years at various horse shows. She loved animals, all types of livestock as well as her cats and dogs. She enjoyed spending time jet boating and camping on the Salmon River near Riggins. Donna was a member of the St. Maries Church of the Nazarene and the Cowgirl Spirit Drill Team of St. Maries. Donna is survived by her sons and daughters-in-law Troy and Dee Pottenger of Harrison and Rob and Joyce Pottenger of Riggins, ID. Also surviving are her father and stepmother Gene and Connie Gabert of Blackfoot, ID. She is also survived by brothers Dave Gabert of Pocatello, ID Rick Gabert of Kalispell, MT and Alan Gabert of Coeur d' Alene, Idaho as well as her grandchildren Jess, Lexi and Tyson Pottenger. She was preceded in death by her mother Barbara and granddaughter Paige Pottenger. A celebration of her life will be held on Saturday, May 28, 2011 at 1:00 p.m. at the St. Maries Church of the Nazarene with Rev. Dan Swan. A gathering of family and friends will follow at the church's gymnasium. Visit her online memorial and sign her guest book at www.hodgefuneralhome.com.
