Mae Anne Potter

mae anne potter
Mae Anne Potter, age 79, of Cresco, Iowa passed away on Wednesday, June 23, 2021 at Evans Memorial Home in Cresco, Iowa after her fairly short, unfortunate battle with cancer that took her way too soon. Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 AM, on Tuesday, June 29, 2021 at Zion Lutheran Church in Alta Vista, Iowa with Pastor Dan Christensen officiating. Burial will be in Phelps Cemetery in Decorah, Iowa. Visitation will be held from 10:00-11:00 AM on Tuesday, June 29, 2021 at Zion Lutheran Church in Alta Vista, Iowa. If you are not able to attend the service in person, please join the Potter family via Conway-Markham Funeral Home’s Facebook Live on Tuesday. Online condolences may be left at www.conway-markhamfh.com. Memorials may be directed to the family. Mae Anne was born on July 2, 1941 in Decorah, Iowa the daughter of Elizabeth (Stahl) and Clarence Thayer. She grew up and attended school in Decorah. Mae Anne married Edward S. Riha and welcomed four children, Shirley, Laine, John and Toni. She had various jobs in her early years including waitressing, owned and operated Ed’s Roller Rink and Starlight Roller Rink and worked in various nursing homes as a nurse aide and certified med aide. Mae Anne and Ed later divorced. Mae Anne married Donald Potter and together they lived by Riceville, Iowa. She ran Osage, Iowa’s Starlight Roller Rink and worked as a dietary aide and ran Potter’s 2nd Chance second hand store. Later Mae Anne accomplished a big achievement by receiving her high school diploma and attending college at NICC in Calmar, Iowa and NIACC in Mason City, Iowa with a degree as a medical assistant. Mae Anne and Don divorced and she moved to Cresco where she made many new friends and spent time with her family. Mae Anne’s favorite things were baking, quilting, playing Bingo, doing word search, watching westerns, gardening, canning, going to garage sales and spending time with family and spoiling all the grandchildren and great grandchildren. Mae Anne is survived by her children Laine Riha of Cresco, Iowa, John (Lori) Riha of New Haven, Iowa, and Toni (Brian) Vrieze of Cresco, Iowa; step-son Dean (Rachael) Potter of Rochester, Minnesota and step-son Thomas (Tammy) Potter of Grandy, North Carolina; seven grandchildren Amanda, Jessica, Heather, Danielle, Taylor, Jordan and Brady; four step-grandchildren Lily, Gavin, Josh and Christopher; eight great grandchildren Mica, Dane, Lexi, Annabella, Lincoln, Landry, Kamden and Lawson; siblings Marian Anderson, of Decorah, Iowa, Helen Whitcher-Miller of Fayette, Iowa, Dale Thayer of Monona, Iowa and Jeanette Schafer of St. Charles, Minnesota. She is preceded in death by her parents Elizabeth and Clarence Thayer; infant daughter Shirley Riha; four brothers Guy Thayer in infancy, Bill Thayer, Bob Thayer, Raulf Thayer and Ronnie Thayer; and two sisters Marcella Brooks and Lorraine Lawver.

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  1. My Deepest Sympathy to Laine, John, and Toni! Know your in my prayers and thoughts at this difficult time of loss. Lyn ( Meissen ) Bailey

  2. RIP Mae Anne you will be dearly missed. I remember you helping me through some really dark times in my life and I have always loved you for that. I will do my best to make sure your memory lives on in our house hold. I am so sorry for the family’s loss and pray for each and everyone of you.

  3. We are deeply sorry for your loss ~ Conway-Markham Funeral Home – New Hampton

  4. Mae Anne was like a second Mother to me growing up!! Rest In Peace Dear Lady!! Prayers going out to all of the Riha family!!!

  5. we are so sorry to hear of mae Anne’s passing. She was a very kind and caring woman and will be missed.


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