Walter Cottle

September 11, 1935 - April 3, 2019

Walt was born on September 11, 1935 in a small white farm house in Trenton, Utah. Walt was the youngest son of Walter D Cottle and Leah Louisa Bunderson. Walt grew up on the family farm, surrounded by his many older siblings and his younger sister Leah. Walt attended a one-room school house and vividly remembers a few times getting only an orange in his Christmas stockings. At 14 years-old Walt took over the running of the family farm due to his father’s health concerns. His family moved to Logan where Walt graduated High School. Walt joined the Marine Corps in 1953. He met his beloved wife, Diann Marie Benschneider, at a church function in Norwalk, California. It was love at first sight. They were sealed in the Los Angeles Temple June 18, 1956 and made their home in Oceanside while serving in the Marine Corps. Walt graduated from Brigham Young University with a BS in Business. He later earned his MBA from Utah State. Walt enthused his career with a ‘farm-boy’ work ethic whether as a pharmaceutical sales rep or as an Assistant Administrator of the McKay Dee Hospital in Ogden, Utah. For over a decade Walt was Director of Central Purchasing for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and as such was able to travel the globe in a variety of church assignments. Walt was called to serve as a Director of Temporal Affairs representing the LDS church throughout the Pacific Islands including Tonga, Samoa, Fiji, Tahiti, New Zealand and Australia. He and Diann lived ‘down under’ with their young sons for over six years. Walt and Diann were able to travel the world and had many unique and touching experiences including returning to Christchurch, New Zealand, to serve as Senior Missionaries. Walt was a hard-worker, an avid reader, a do-it-yourselfer, and a firm but loving father. He enjoyed snow skiing, golfing and camping. He was a voracious reader especially enjoying Louis L’amour and Jesus the Christ. Above all, he had a deep and consistent testimony of the Savior, Jesus Christ. Walt is preceded in death by his beloved wife Diann and by his grandsons Jason Harper and Devon Jones. Walt is survived by his children: Lisa (Greg) Harper, Alan (Patty), Jolene (Russ) Jones, Robb (Karen), Gordon (Stephannie), and Chris (Amy). Walt has a posterity of 27 amazing grandchildren, and 30 beautiful great-grandchildren. A Viewing will be held Thursday, April 11th, at Utah Valley Mortuary from 3:00 to 3:45 pm. Graveside Services with Military Honors to follow from 4:00 to 4:30 pm in the Highland City Cemetery, 6200 West 11000 North, Highland, Utah. An Open House in his honor will follow the graveside service from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at the Ivory Ridge Clubhouse, 32 East Clubhouse Lane, Lehi, Utah. All who knew Walt are invited to attend. Funeral Directors: Utah Valley Mortuary.