Ida Utahna (Lyons) Gigger

Ida Utahna Lyons Gigger was born October 7, 1923 in Huntington, Oregon. Born to Albert Rice Lyons and Ida Ann Despain, she was the ninth of ten children, six sisters and three brothers. She attended school in Weiser, Idaho and graduated in 1941. After high school, she moved to Boise, Idaho and lived with her sister Velva’s family to attend Boise Business College. She met the love of her life, Charles Emery Gigger, at a church carnival. On their first date, he told her he was going to marry her. She told him she would never marry him, even if he was the last man on earth. But he must have swept her off feet because they were married six months later on September 14, 1946 in Boise, Idaho. One year later, they traveled to Canada to be sealed in the Cardston Alberta LDS Temple. Their three oldest daughters, Marvi, Janice and Tamra, were born in Boise. They moved to Pocatello in November 1951 and welcomed six more children: Greg, Emery, Ceva, Starla, Kent and Tanya.

Ida worked for Intermountain Gas Company for 22 years and retired in 1984. Her friend and coworker Steve Bartlett said she was great to work with. He said that she never got involved in office politics or gossip. They loved her so much that after her retirement they called her back to fill in for several years.

Ida was a wonderful homemaker and made the best pies. She ran an organized, busy home with her large family. She hated to be late and was very punctual. Ida loved flowers, especially roses, lilacs, peonies, irises and petunias. She enjoyed morning aerobics with her church friends into her 90s. She was an avid reader and read several books a week. She loved to watch football, always rooting for the underdog. She loved attending the Highland High School football games with her friend Jean Nisson.

Ida was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and loved her Savior. Ida was a devoted member of the Meadowbrook Ward for over 70 years. She served in many callings, including Primary Secretary, Young Women Secretary, Junior Sunday School Teacher, Relief Society Teacher, Compassionate Service Committee Member and Stake Primary Secretary. Her longest and most recent calling was Ward Librarian, in which she served for over 17 years. She served in this calling with her dear friend Ramona McDougall. Ida was kind, generous and fun to be with. She never had an unkind thing to say about anyone. She never complained, even as her life was coming to an end.

Ida loved to travel. Some of her travels included New York, Pennsylvania, Hawaii, Alaska, Greece, New Zealand and Israel. She also traveled to Italy in February 2019 to attend the Rome Italy LDS Temple open house. She was 94 at the time but you wouldn’t have known it, as she walked miles and miles on that trip.

Ida and Charles loved to attend the temple together. In the last years of her life, she dreamed of attending the long-awaited Pocatello Idaho LDS Temple. Because of her declining health, she didn’t know if that would become a reality, but thankfully it did. Through Ida’s faith and the help of her caring physician, Dr. Fahim Rahim, and the Pocatello Communication Director, Larry Fisher, she was able to attend the open house and dedication as a special guest. After the temple opened, she was also blessed to attend a few sessions.

Ida loved her big family. She loved having big dinners in her home, especially at Christmas and Thanksgiving. She supported her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She attended weddings, baptisms, graduations, missionary farewells and homecomings, baby blessings, and many more events. Her home was a sanctuary of peace, safety and love. We will cherish all of the years we had with her. She was Christlike in so many ways. She returned to her Heavenly Father on Thursday, June 23, 2022. We know she is now reunited with her husband, Charles, her daughter Tanya and her son Emery.

She is survived by her children Marvi Gigger (Terry Patrick), Janice Newsom, Tami (Theon) Hall, Greg (Larie) Gigger, Marbet Gigger (daughter-in-law), Ceva Cottrell, Starla (Bruce) Prescott, Kent Gigger and partner Roseann Gigger, Wayne Nelson (son-in-law), 27 grandchildren and 43 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles, daughter Tanya Nelson, son Emery Gigger and son-in-law Jerry Cottrell.

A viewing will be held on Friday, July 8, 2022 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Manning Wheatley Funeral Home at 510 N 12th Ave, Pocatello. Funeral services will be held Saturday, July 9, 2022 at the LDS church at 300 E Chapel Rd, Pocatello at 12:00 p.m., with a viewing one hour prior to the service. The graveside service will take place at the Restlawn Memorial Gardens, 2864 S 5th Ave, Pocatello from 1:30 to 2:00 p.m.