Lola Cooke

lola cooke
Early Monday morning, January 12, 2009, Lola G. Cooke returned the gift of life to God that had been given to her some ninety-nine years ago. She fought the good fight. She was born on December 3, 1909 in Crosby, ND to Henry Cornelius ?HC? Nelson and Amanda (Stroscheine) Nelson. The Nelson family had proved up a homestead claim north of Noonan and later established farm machinery dealerships in Noonan and Crosby. When a neighboring county to the west was divided and became Divide County, HC Nelson was elected to be the first sheriff of the new county and the Nelson family moved from Noonan to Crosby, the new county seat. Several years later, the family moved to Outlook, Montana where Lola attended grade school and graduated from Outlook High School in 1928. After graduation, she attended Minnesota State University, Moorhead and received a degree in Elementary Education. She taught for one year in a one -room country school in Pelican Lake West, MN (Ottertail County), and then taught in rural Scoby, Montana, for two years at two separate one-room schools. She married William ?Bill? Andrew Cooke at Trinity Lutheran Church in Moorhead on October 29, 1933. They then moved to Fargo, ND, where Bill worked for the Currier News, which later became part of the Fargo Forum. Lola belonged to the Royal Neighbors of America, the Fargo Printer?s Union Auxiliary, did volunteer work at the Fargo Veterans Administration Hospital and delivered Meals on Wheels. She was active at Gethsemane Episcopal Cathedral where she was a member of the Altar Guild and worked on the church bazaar for many years. She was an accomplished seamstress, crafter and milliner. Even when lady?s hats were no longer in style, you would always see Lola with a hat. She was often called ?the hat lady?. Lola is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Bill; and four brothers: George, Melvin, Lyle, and Vernon ?Bud? Nelson. She is survived by her children: Janet Wichmann, of Seattle, WA and Fargo, ND, and Lon (Mary Jo) Cooke of Fargo, ND; six grandchildren: Janna Betterman, Lauria Wichmann, Dane Wichmann, Leigh Anne Dewberry, Alan Cooke, and James Cooke; six great grandchildren; and one great, great grandchild. The Funeral Communion Service will be held at Gethsemane Episcopal Cathedral on Saturday January 17 at 11:00 AM. A reception will be held in the church hall after the funeral.

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