Betty Trom

On Tuesday, March 27, 2018, Betty Marie Trom, 96 - wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother - went to her heavenly home. Privileged to go through her journey with her were her husband of nearly 65 years, Orville, and her children, son Doug Trom and daughter Dianne (Richard) Hanson. Betty’s gentle spirit will live on through the lives of her 5 grandchildren - Paula Trom, Ryan (Jackie) Trom, Liann (Marty Williams) Hanson, Jessica (Damion Rassier) Hanson, and Jana (Kevin McComb) Hanson; and her 8 great-grandchildren - Andrew, Emily, Mason, Cora, Wesley, Isobel, Evelyn, and Traeger. A memorial service will be held at 2:00pm on Tuesday, April 3, 2018, at Boulder Funeral Home in Fargo, with visitation at 1:00. Betty Marie Cockerill was born in Richfield, NE on August 1, 1921 to Leon and Eva (Martin) Cockerill. She had three brothers: Robert (Marge), Jude (Helen), and Dean (Peggy). Betty’s mother died when she was 10, and her father later remarried Irene (Bradsbury) Cockerill. From this, Betty had two sisters: Phyllis (Erv Stuckle) and Nancy (Lynn Nelson). Betty graduated from Papillion High School in Nebraska in 1938 and later that year moved with her family to North Dakota. She was united in marriage to Orville Trom on December 16, 1944. The family settled in the Davenport, ND area, first in town and later on a farm. Betty spent her life helping others. She was a dedicated mom and wife. Meals were always made from scratch and served with love, whether that was a meal for her children, her large extended family, or to the men helping in the fields. Grandchildren always knew where to find the candy and were encouraged to jump on beds as Betty had done as a young girl. Betty loved warm laundry and ironing clothes. In addition to raising children, Betty also served her community as the president of the Davenport Lutheran Church Ladies Aid and as the president and vice-president of the Davenport School PTA. Known for her excellent cooking, Betty will also be remembered for making 150 popcorn balls for the local Christmas tree lighting with Santa. Betty was an active and proud Republican her entire life. Betty was preceded in death by her husband, parents, siblings, brothers and sisters-in law, Dick Trom, Bev and Lowell Simonson, William Lechner and a grandson. Betty is survived by her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews, and special sister-in-law, Geraldine (Jeri) Lechner. Special thanks to the wonderful staff at Glenn’s Place at Edgewood Vista in Fargo, her second home. Memorials preferred to Hospice of the Red River Valley or Davenport Cemetery Fund. This quote by Helen Keller sums up her family’s feelings as they grieve: What we once enjoyed we can never lose. All that we love deeply becomes a part of us.