Barbara Briggs Obituary

Encircled by her children Matthew, Lisa, and David at Haven Creek Assisted Living Facility in West Haven, Utah,

Barbara Lee Gerber Briggs, age 87, was reunited with her oldest daughter, Becky and husband Jim, on July 11th, 2025, while struggling to recover from a broken hip.

Born in Wooster, Ohio, to Robert King Gerber and Lillie Viona Nielsen on December 14,1937, Barbara was the oldest of three children. The family moved to Logan, Utah, when Barbara was two years old. There she spent her childhood playing softball, shooting guns, splashing in the ditch that ran in front of her home “down on the Island”, and caring for her younger brothers Robert (Bob) and Richard (Rick).

Affectionately known as “Babs”, she graduated from Logan High School in 1955 and went on to attend college at Utah State University joining the Aggie! Marching! Band! as a clarinetist. Four years later, she earned her baccalaureate in Mathematics and Physical Education.

During this time, Barbara became acquainted with a rancher who was at USU working on his master’s degree after graduating from the University of Wyoming. They began dating when Jim contacted Barbara to “borrow a book” used in a class Barbara and Jim’s mother had taken together. The two were eventually married in the Logan Temple on July 15th, 1960.

After teaching school in Montpelier, Idaho, and Price, Utah, and supporting Jim as principal in Milford, she and Jim moved to Manila, Utah where they lived for the next forty years.

Living in one of the most rural of rural towns in Utah is not for everyone, but here, proximate to the Flaming Gorge, Barbara thrived. After residing in the basement of the homestead house and the Linwood dance hall located on the “Walker Place”, Jim and Barbara built a home of their own on Highway 43. Here Barbara baled hay, sold fresh cream and milk, valiantly tried to grow a garden, raised her four children, and taught several subjects at Manila High School including math, PE, and seminary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She was also the school librarian. In addition, she became one of the first EMTs in Daggett County.

Always a stalwart member of the LDS church, she and Jim served two missions. One in Maine where she developed a fondness for lighthouses and one in California. Barbara was delighted with both calls when she learned neither required her to wear a dress. She also enjoyed teaching Gospel Doctrine and put her heart and soul into the calling of nursery leader.

Unable to manage the ranch due to Jim’s failing health, they left their beloved Manila and relocated to Roy, Utah in 2018. Following Jim’s death in 2020, Barbara moved in with Lisa. She spent her time reading, indexing, tending Lisa’s dog, Trixie, and keeping up on the doings of her six grandchildren, Avery, Niel, Eryn, Mari, Aleah, and Nathan.

Barbara will be honored on July 18th, 2025, at 11:00 am with a graveside service at the Logan City Cemetery, Logan, Utah. Barbara requested donations be made to Smile Train at supportsmiletrain.org in lieu of flowers. This organization provides quality cleft care for children. The family would like the staff and residents at Haven Creek to know how much their love and care for Barbara is appreciated.

Graveside Services will be Friday, July 18, 2025 at 11 am at the Logan City Cemetery.