Vanetta Fern Pottorff passed away peacefully at Fairacres Manor in Greeley, CO on Tuesday November 8, 2022.
She was 98 years old and leaves behind a loving family who will miss her dearly. As she went to her eternal home in heaven with Jesus Christ, she was reunited with her husband, Ernie, their son Gary Ray, her mom and dad Hazel and Walter Langston, her brother, Don Langston, sister Marjorie Barber (Langston) and a host of other family and friends who preceded her in death. Vanetta was born on April 6, 1924 at the family home south of Limon, Colorado. The middle child of a loving family, she attended school in Limon and shared fun stories about her childhood with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Her father relocated to Burlington when she was in the 7th grade and she graduated from Burlington High School at the age of 16 in 1940.
Her high school friends awarded her with the title of “a friend to all” and this description stayed with her throughout her life. After high school she worked at Standish Drug Store in Burlington and often spoke of how much she enjoyed that job. A highlight of her young life was a story she told of a train trip that she, her sister, and a close friend made to the Big Apple in the early 40’s. Her children were especially fond of this story as hearing of this adventure was out of the norm for the lady they grew up with who often got lost driving in Denver! She met Ernie at a dance and the two were married shortly after on April 5th, 1945, when Ernie was on furlough from the Army during World War II.
Vanetta often shared how her mother was upset that she didn’t wait until she was 21 to marry but she decided being one day off from that milestone would be close enough. Their marriage of 54 years was exemplified by their devotion and love of family. After the war, Vanetta and Ernie set up life as a young couple at their 3 bedroom home 4 miles west of Stratton and were blessed with their first child, Gary Ray on July 18, 1946. Tragically, he was taken from them on December 27, 1947. The couple turned to the Lord at that time, a decision that has had amazingly positive consequences for their lives and the lives of their descendants throughout the years. They welcomed a girl, Diane Sue on October 16th, 1948, a son Terry Lee on April 28, 1952 and a son, Larry Dean on November 11, 1954. Vanetta was totally devoted to her children and her family in the following years and found her life’s calling being a mother and wife – a calling in which she excelled.
In addition to being an amazing mom, she was also a devoted daughter and sister to her family as she helped with the family business, Langston’s Style Shop which operated on main street in Burlington for many years. She also was an amazing support to her sister Marge for years who lost her sight during the prime of her life. Vanetta was best described as a fun-loving woman who cared for others deeply, loved her Lord passionately and would do anything for her kids. She always put her kids first whether it was making sure Diane was involved with twirling competitions or attending all of Terry and Larry’s sporting events. She used fun nicknames such as “KONAY Denver” because of the large KOA radio tower from that era, “Burlyburgen” for her hometown and “Watta Watta Springs” for Colorado Springs – no one was sure where those two came from but symbolic of how she enjoyed having fun and laughing.
And, of course, her famous whistle that could be heard at far distances when she wanted to summon Ernie or the kids in for dinner or supper. She and Ernie moved to Greeley, CO in 1997 and Vanetta spent the final years of life at Fairacres Nursing home where she continued to touch others in her inimitable loving way. She was widowed for the last 23 years of her life and poured her love into her 3 children and their spouses, 9 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. She is survived by her children, Diane Davis her husband Mike and their daughter Desiree of Sedona, AZ, Terry Pottorff, his wife Wendy of Limon, CO and their children Brooke O’Donnell of Denver, CO, Chris Jones of Simla, CO, Kyle and Kirk Pottorff of Walla Walla WA, and Kelly Pottorff of Limon, CO, Larry Pottorff his wife, Janis of Greeley, CO and their children Jessica (Paul) of Greeley, CO, Jacob of Ft. Collins, CO and Clayton of Belle Fourche, SD. A public viewing will be held 6 pm, Friday, November 18th, 2022 at Love Funeral Homes and Monuments in Burlington.
A memorial service for Vanetta will be held 11 am, Saturday, November 19th, 2022 at Love Funeral Homes and Monuments in Burlington. Interment will follow at Fairview Cemetery in Burlington, CO. The family encourages random acts of kindness toward others in Vanetta’s memory to honor the kindness she demonstrated throughout her life.
