1931
DeDe
2022
DeDe Cook
November 11, 1931 — January 21, 2022
Life-long Powell County resident Margaret Delia “Dede” Cook, 90, passed away Friday, January 21, 2022, at St. Patrick Hospital, of natural causes.
Dede was a “Wales Girl.” She was born November 11, 1931 to Eugene Earl and Ruperta “Ruby” (Coughlin) Wales of Helmville. She was raised on the Wales Brother’s Ranch and attended Helmville schools.
First year of school she attended the Blackfoot School, 5 miles from the ranch. She boarded with Uncle Dave and Aunt Lucy (Bignell) Coughlin. The next seven years, she attended school in Helmville and boarded with her Mom’s cousin, Francis (McCormick) Potts.
She and her sisters attended high school at Sacred Heart Academy in Missoula under the care of The Sisters of Providence. She graduated class of 1949 and went on to earn a 2-year Teaching Certificate from the College of Education in Great Falls in June of 1951.
She married Glenn Dean Cook June 25, that same year. They had met and dated when she was 15 and shared 70 years of marriage.
Dede was a devoted wife, and mother of 12 who kept the books, managed the calls and billing for Glenn’s excavation business and even drove the dump truck if needed. She substitute taught in School District #1 after her youngest reached Jr. High.
As a member of The Immaculate Conception Parish, she served as a Eucharistic minister, parish council member, sacristan, and religious education instructor. She provided visitation and communion to the sick at Colonial Manor.
She belonged to the Sons and Daughters of Montana Pioneers. She was an adept card player and had time for everyone. She shared her wit and humor until her invitation to heaven.
Dede was welcomed into heaven by her parents, and her infant son, Charles (1955); her brothers: infant Hugh Wales, and Ed Wales; sisters Anna Marie (Sidney Duane Cooper); Ruperta Jean (George Larson); Elizabeth Joan (Frank Pope); Francis Bernadette (Pete Senecal); Shirley Wales; daughter-in-law Tina (Craig) Cook; nephews Tom and Rodney Senecal, and Michael Larson; Glenn’s mother, Ruth, and husband Art (Hitz); Glenn’s brother Chuck and wife, Joan, and their son, Charlie.
She is survived by her husband Glenn, sister-in-law Esther (Boyle) Wales of Selah, WA; sister-in-law, Bonnie Berg and husband, Phil, of Deer Lodge, and 11 children: Earl and Linda (Sexton), Milwaukie, OR; Kevin, Missoula; Cary and Jan (Harris), Billings; Andrew and Patricia (Parker), Deer Lodge; Laurie and Rick Hunter, Deer Lodge; Peggy and David Mannix, Helmville; Joel and Sandra (Carlson), Portland, OR; Maury and Karen (Dumezich), Butte; Maria and Johnny Jay Senecal, Avon; Tom and Shauna (Balkovetz), Great Falls; Brad and Katie (Harper), Helena; 36 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews and families.
Funeral services are pending.
Dede was a “Wales Girl.” She was born November 11, 1931 to Eugene Earl and Ruperta “Ruby” (Coughlin) Wales of Helmville. She was raised on the Wales Brother’s Ranch and attended Helmville schools.
First year of school she attended the Blackfoot School, 5 miles from the ranch. She boarded with Uncle Dave and Aunt Lucy (Bignell) Coughlin. The next seven years, she attended school in Helmville and boarded with her Mom’s cousin, Francis (McCormick) Potts.
She and her sisters attended high school at Sacred Heart Academy in Missoula under the care of The Sisters of Providence. She graduated class of 1949 and went on to earn a 2-year Teaching Certificate from the College of Education in Great Falls in June of 1951.
She married Glenn Dean Cook June 25, that same year. They had met and dated when she was 15 and shared 70 years of marriage.
Dede was a devoted wife, and mother of 12 who kept the books, managed the calls and billing for Glenn’s excavation business and even drove the dump truck if needed. She substitute taught in School District #1 after her youngest reached Jr. High.
As a member of The Immaculate Conception Parish, she served as a Eucharistic minister, parish council member, sacristan, and religious education instructor. She provided visitation and communion to the sick at Colonial Manor.
She belonged to the Sons and Daughters of Montana Pioneers. She was an adept card player and had time for everyone. She shared her wit and humor until her invitation to heaven.
Dede was welcomed into heaven by her parents, and her infant son, Charles (1955); her brothers: infant Hugh Wales, and Ed Wales; sisters Anna Marie (Sidney Duane Cooper); Ruperta Jean (George Larson); Elizabeth Joan (Frank Pope); Francis Bernadette (Pete Senecal); Shirley Wales; daughter-in-law Tina (Craig) Cook; nephews Tom and Rodney Senecal, and Michael Larson; Glenn’s mother, Ruth, and husband Art (Hitz); Glenn’s brother Chuck and wife, Joan, and their son, Charlie.
She is survived by her husband Glenn, sister-in-law Esther (Boyle) Wales of Selah, WA; sister-in-law, Bonnie Berg and husband, Phil, of Deer Lodge, and 11 children: Earl and Linda (Sexton), Milwaukie, OR; Kevin, Missoula; Cary and Jan (Harris), Billings; Andrew and Patricia (Parker), Deer Lodge; Laurie and Rick Hunter, Deer Lodge; Peggy and David Mannix, Helmville; Joel and Sandra (Carlson), Portland, OR; Maury and Karen (Dumezich), Butte; Maria and Johnny Jay Senecal, Avon; Tom and Shauna (Balkovetz), Great Falls; Brad and Katie (Harper), Helena; 36 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews and families.
Funeral services are pending.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of DeDe Cook, please visit our flower store.
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