Leon (Jude) Cockerill Jr.

I, Leon (Jude) Herbert Cockerill, Jr. left this earth to be with my Savior, Jesus Christ on Saturday, August 19th, 2017 at 6:45 AM. I, Leon, Jr., the son of Leon, Sr. and Eva Cockerill, was born August 25, 1927, in Omaha, Nebraska. I was baptized and confirmed in Papillion, Nebraska. I was baptized again at Temple Baptist Church, in Fargo, ND. My mother, Eva, died when I was four years old. My new mother, Irene, did a wonderful job of raising her step children and children. I want to thank my mother for carrying me to full term. I am proud that the Lord was involved. This involvement came to have meaning. I am a sinner and I have cried many times about that. I want to apologize to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. I remember the day that I asked the Lord to forgive me. I sat between Howard and Jean Nelson at Mapleton Presbyterian Church, Mapleton, ND. I cried because I was going to ask the Father to forgive me of my sins. My prayer was answered that night. I married Helen Pederson on October 9, 1949, at the First Lutheran Church, Fargo, ND. I want my wife, Helen, of 62 years and mother of my five children to know that I loved her. I went to church because of my wife. I remember my banker saying, “Jude, you are lucky and rich.” My parents and my wife’s parents meant a great deal to me. I want to thank the churches that have helped me. Washington Lutheran Church, Northwood, ND, First Lutheran Church, Fargo, ND, Harwood Lutheran Church, Harwood, ND, Mapleton Presbyterian Church, Mapleton, ND, Temple Baptist Church, Fargo, ND, Mision Bautista Buen Pastor Church, Fargo, ND, and Harvest Church, Moorhead, MN. I want to thank these churches for taking care of me. May God bless their members. Thank you to my great neighbors in Harwood, on my Mapleton farm, and in north Moorhead. I am survived by daughter Pamela Coleman, Orrville, Ohio, sons Lon (Kheng) Cockerill, Fargo, ND, Randi (Christine) Cockerill, Moorhead, MN, Brian Cockerill, Mapleton, ND, and Leon Cockerill III, Mapleton, ND. My two grandchildren, CA Coleman, Staunton, VA, Chip (Martha) Coleman, Apple Creek, OH. My three step-grandchildren, Cathie Lewis, Moorhead, MN, Eng (Hiep) Nguyen, Moorhead, MN, Leap (Scarlett) Chear, Sioux Falls, SD. My four great-grandchildren, Cody Coleman and Silas, Ezra, and Jesse Coleman. My five step great-grandchildren, Brandon, Nicholas, and Rachael Nguyen and Hunter and Olivia Chear. My sister, Betty Trom. My sisters-in-law and brother-in-law, Ione (Ralph) Leet, Alden (Shirley) Pederson, Audrey Pederson, and Myrna Birrenkott. I love you all very much. I was preceded in death by my wife, Helen, brothers Robert and Dean, and sisters Phyllis Stuckle and Nancy Nelson. I am donating my body for medical research to the University of North Dakota Medical School, Grand Forks, ND. I must leave now. The Lord is calling me home. With love. Amen. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made either to Harvest Church, or Mision Bautista Buen Pastor Church, or the Salvation Army (Volunteer Services), or to the Sanford Health (Cardiac & Medical/Surgical Floor/Hospice), or to Temple Baptist Church, or to the VA – Volunteer Services.