Lyle T Cottle

Holy Week, how fitting and symbolic. Upon learning the terminal nature of mounting complications incident to heart disease, diabetes, and pancreatic cancer, Lyle T Cottle returned from the hospital with his beloved Lynne of 57 years, to their beautiful home in West Weber, UT. Emboldened by their motto of hope and faith, “The Best is Yet to Come”, Lyle spent his final week of mortality doing what he had taught and always done, giving time, effort and energy to build and strengthen relationships. He gathered the family, expressed his deep love for Lynne, embraced and expressed love to each member, and taught and testified of Jesus Christ. Then peacefully, early on the morning of April 3, 2026, Good Friday, Lyle graduated from his second estate, Summa Cum Laude!

Born February 7, 1944 to Veda Thompson and Merlin Cottle in Logan, UT, he was the fourth of seven children. As he grew in stature and increased in favor, he became a trusted and dependable son, brother, and friend. Lyle established himself as a vital part of the family business early on, even driving the insulation truck at just 8 years old! He recalled that Grandpa Thompson included him in the “men’s work”, because he was big. His love for his parents and siblings was evident throughout his life and no distance or expense was ever too much when planning a reunion!

Perhaps the greatest blessing of teaching Sunday School, which he started at age 18 and continued until his passing at 82, was the impression he made on Lynne Cowan, “Miss Payson Utah”. As BYU students, they met, fell in love, and following a lengthy courtship of three weeks and painfully long engagement lasting another two months, they were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple on September 25, 1969. A short 4 months later he was drafted into the US Army and soon left to serve in the Vietnam War. This time apart only intensified a timeless romance and love story that will continue forever.

The embodiment of a “Renaissance Man", Lyle excelled athletically, musically, and academically. In high school he lettered in football, basketball, and baseball. As captain, he led Pocatello High to a men’s state basketball championship in 1962, then went on to play collegiately for Idaho State. As an accomplished musician and singer, he sat 1st chair saxophonist in the All-State band and performed semi-professionally on the college circuit as lead and tenor for his quartet. He obtained bachelors, masters, and doctorate degrees from Brigham Young University. Professionally Lyle passionately taught the gospel of Jesus Christ to high school, university, and other students and teachers in the Church Educational System. As a licensed professional counselor and independent contractor, he expertly built homes and people.

Motivated by a revelatory witness and covenantal conviction, Lyle worked to win souls for Christ and build His Kingdom. Serving faithfully throughout his life he accepted every call. He served two full-time missions, first as a young man in the Eastern Atlantic States Mission, then as a senior CES missionary at BYU-Hawaii with his favorite companion, Lynne. Three times he served as bishop: Chubbuck, ID; Blaine, MN; and the University of Minnesota Student Ward. He served as Stake Presidency Counselor in Pocatello, Idaho, and as President of the Anoka, Minnesota Stake. Known for his love of the scriptures and the temple, Lyle taught the truths of the gospel with power and authority because he lived privately what he taught publicly.

Lyle and Lynne were blessed with seven children and continuously expressed joy and rejoiced in their posterity. His greatest passion and hobby was creating unity and memories with his family. From horses to ATVs or tools to trucks, Lyle never had a single possession that he wouldn’t share with his family, and if there was something he couldn’t do with his family he wouldn’t do it at all. While raising their family, Lyle’s greatest work was always within the walls of his own home. Once his children married and established homes of their own, his work and joy expanded to building the walls and the people in all the homes! From Iowa to Oklahoma and California to Maryland, no father has driven more miles to drive more nails than Lyle. His most important legacy is his large posterity numbering over 65 souls: 7 children and their spouses, and over 50 grandchildren and great grandchildren by the end of this year. Grandpa loved to teach that “the covenant is stronger than the blood,” and understood temple marriage to multiply his posterity instead of a division to it. To Lyle, there were no “in-law” family members, only “in-covenant” family members.

Lyle was preceded in death by Eliza Pavia and Jacob Cottle (Grandchildren), his mother and father, Veda and Merlin Cottle, Lynne’s mother and father, Lois and Max Cowan, and his sister Emma Coltrin and brother Darell Cottle.

He is survived by his wife, Lynne Cowan Cottle; his children: Michael (Jennifer) Cottle, Melinda (Shem) Messerli, Lisa (Joel) Barrow, Kristin (Rob) Powell, Jenny (Mike) Pavia, Joseph (Emily) Cottle, and Erin (Jeremy) Bouwhuis; 33 grandchildren (plus 8 in-covenant); 6 great grandchildren, with a few more on the way; his siblings: Marba Thompson, Wayne (Geri) Cottle, Adele (Terry) Russell, Brent (Joyce) Cottle, and Joel (Carolyn) Cowan in-covenant.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at 11 a.m. at the West Weber 2nd Ward, 4100 West 900 South St, Ogden, UT 84404. Friends may visit with family on Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 9 to 10:30 a.m. at the church. Interment, Payson City Cemetery on Monday, April 13, 2026, at 11 a.m., 400 North 800 East St, Payson, UT 84651.

Services will be live streamed and available at the bottom of Lyle's obituary page.

Services entrusted to Lindquist's Roy Mortuary.

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