Can't set xVar = range from worksheet.cells(numRow, yVarColumn) - excel

Question

I am struggling with proper syntax for setting variables as ranges...
Specifically, I'm testing a function I want to use in an app that creates new profiles and store the data, I will store that data on a hidden sheet, so they can be recalled at run time.
I'm currently construction a userform in order to create a new profile, the profile data needs to be stored to the first free column on the hidden sheet.
(where I will have to create a dynamic namedRange, so that i can use that range to save the associated data, and update the listbox in the userform)
Right now, I'm stumped by this:
Sub TestFindLastFunctions()
Dim wb As Workbook
Set wb = ThisWorkbook
'wb.activate 'shouldn't be neccesary
Dim ws As Worksheet
Set ws = sh_02CRepStorage
'ws.activate 'shoudn't be neccesary
Dim trgtCol As Long
trgtCol = LastColInSheet(ws) + 2
Debug.Print trgtCol ' so far so good
'Cells(1, trgtCol).Select 'another debug check - only works if sheet activated
Dim trgtCell As Range
Set trgtCell = ws.Cells(1, trgtCol) '<------- problem line
Debug.Print trgtCell '<----- prints "" to the immediate window.
End Sub
The LastColInSheet function is copied form Ron de bruin's page: https://www.rondebruin.nl/win/s9/win005.htm it simply returns a column number, in this case: 4.(One problem with it is if the sheet is empty, it returns an error, wondering if this can be fixed with an if statement in the function.)
I've tried many iterations of the problem line, some work but only if the storage sheet is activated, and give an error if not activate or selected, as the sheet will be hidden, I need this to work without activating the sheet, (although I could switch off screen activation?).
But I understand that it is best practice to avoid extraneous selects and activates, how can I just point directly to what I want and save that range into a variable?
It just doesn't seem like it should be so difficult, I must be missing something obvious.
It also seems like it shouldn't need so many lines of code to do something so simple.

Answer 1

I tried some more iterations of the "problem line" after some more searching...
-The real problem was with the debug.print line
Sub TestFindLastFunctions()
Dim wb As Workbook
Set wb = ThisWorkbook
'wb.activate 'shouldn't be neccesary
Dim ws As Worksheet
Set ws = sh_02CRepStorage
'ws.activate 'shoudn't be neccesary
Dim trgtCol As Long
trgtCol = LastColInSheet(ws) + 2
Debug.Print trgtCol ' so far so good
'Cells(1, trgtCol).Select 'debug Only works if already on sheet
Dim trgtCell As Range
'Set trgtCell = ws.Range _
(ws.Cells(1, trgtCol), ws.Cells(1, trgtCol))
' unnecessarily complex, but correct if using .range?
'but works if insisting on range
Set trgtCell = ws.Cells(1, trgtCol) 'back to original
Debug.Print trgtCell.Address '<---problem was here?
End Sub