Lawrence (Bill) Cooper

Lawrence ?Bill? Cooper, 80, passed away Saturday, September 20, 2003 at home surrounded by his loving family after a courageous 2 1/2 year battle with lung cancer. Bill was born on January 8, 1923 to James E. and Mary Cooper in Webster, SD. After high school graduation in 1940, he enlisted in the U.S Navy, serving on the USS Pensacola in the South Pacific during WWII. On January 20, 1945, he married Gertrude Lardy of Roslyn, SD in Los Angeles, CA. After the war they returned to Webster, SD where he worked for Northwestern Public Service as a linesman for 13 years. He transferred to Watertown, SD before moving to Fargo in 1957. He was employed by Northern States Power, now Xcel Energy, as a linesman and then substation electrician, retiring in 1988. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Gertrude; 2 daughters, Julie (Ted) Novetzke, Henning, MN, Barb (Tom) Willems, St. Paul, MN; 2 sons, John, Minneapolis, MN, Mark (Mary) Ft. Worth, TX; 4 grandchildren, Lori (John) Taylor, Jenifer (Tom) Braun, Paul Willems, and Kjersti Cooper; sister, Marguerite Waligoske, Webster, SD; brother, Richard Cooper, Sturgis, SD and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, James and Mary; infant son, James Robert and siblings, Merlin, Lyle, Doris, Robert and David. Special thank you to Dr. Tate and Hospice, especially Amy, June, Joan and Nicole. Memorials are preferred to Hospice of the Red River Valley. Visitation: Tuesday, September 23 from 5-8 pm with a prayer service at 7 pm at Boulger Funeral Home, Fargo and one hour prior to the service at the church. Funeral: Wednesday, September 24 at 1:30 pm at Church of the Holy Spirit, Fargo. Burial: Webster, SD Arrangements with Boulger Fueral Home, Fargo. _________________________________________________________________