Irene Cooper
June 8, 1922 ~ May 23, 2014
Evelyn Irene Cooper, 91, of Faulkton, passed away, Friday, May 23, 2014 at the Faulkton Area Medical Center.
Funeral service was held at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, May 27, 2014 at the United Church of Faulkton with Pastor Bill Hoffman officiating. Burial followed at Faulkton Cemetery. Visitation was held from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., Monday, May 26, 2014 with a 4:00 p.m. prayer service, all at Luce Funeral Home, Faulkton.
Evelyn Irene was born June 8, 1922 to Clarence and Emma (Hagenlock) Rusch in Elroy Township near Onaka, South Dakota. She attended elementary school at Lincoln School in Elroy Township and graduated from Seneca High School in 1939. She attended Northern State College one year, received her First Grade certificate enabling her to teach at Ford and Latham Schools, each for two years. She returned to teaching in 1960, and finished getting her degree by attending summer sessions and extension classes, graduating from Northern State University in 1974. She continued teaching until retiring in 1985.
On August 11, 1943, she married John W. Cooper in Brownwood, Texas where Jack was stationed at Fort Hood. To this union, four children were born: Jacque, Delbert, Charlene and Jill.
Upon John’s “Jack’s” discharge from the U.S. Army Medical Corp, they established a home in Seneca Township. They moved to several other rented farms before building their own home on the farm site owned by Jack’s parents, the W.H. Cooper’s, in Latham Township. They continued to live there and farm until failing health prevented Jack from actively participating in the farm work in 1987. They continued to live in their farm home until April of 1995 when they purchased a home in Faulkton.
Irene was a member of the United Methodist Church in Seneca and Faulkton, the Rebekah Lodge in both Seneca and Faulkton, a bible study group, the Healthcare Auxiliary, the Tuesday Club, Retired Teachers, and Jolly Dozen Whist Club, plus several other organizations.
Gardening, crafting, music, reading, cards, volunteer work, her grandchildren, great grandchildren, great-great grandchildren and people in general were some of Irene’s favorite pastimes.
Grateful to have shared in her life are her three daughters: Jacque (Duane) Frisinger of Moorhead, MN, Charlene (Thomas) Haggar of Lincoln, NE and Jill (Gary) Henderson of Albuquerque, NM; one daughter-in-law, Barbara Cooper of Sioux Falls; three brothers: Clif (Marilyn) Rusch of Spearfish, Ken (Marilyn) Rusch of Fairmont, MN and Robert (Darlene) Rusch of Onaka; one sister, Corinne (Joe) Bowar of Faulkton; seven grandchildren; 15 great grandchildren and one great-great granddaughter.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Jack; son, Delbert; granddaughter, Angela (Cooper) Powers; son-in-law, Stan Wahlen; and a great-great granddaughter, Kirstin Booke.
Luce Funeral Home of Faulkton has been entrusted with Irene’s arrangements.
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Our deepest thought and prayers go out to all of Irene’s family. Irene was one very special lady to our family and will be greatly missed. Beulah asked me to express her sadness and love to all of you. In deepest sympathy,
We send our love and sympathy to you Jacque and Duane and to all your family.Savor all your wonderful memories of your Mom and growing up in South Dakota.Share the love of each other as you mourn,laugh,cry,tease,and relive days gone by. Lovingly,Marie&Gordy
Our deepest sympathy goes out to your family. The boys always told us about their visits with Grandma Irene. Take care & God bless.
Thoughts and prayers to your family during this difficult time. Irene is reunited with her loving husband and you have another angel to watch over you. A big hug to Char, much love to you my dear!
sorry about your Mom. She was in the room next to Dad at the hospital so got to visit with her. She was a true lady.
Mrs. Cooper served as my teacher in a one room country school house from 1965-69. She was a quality teacher, but more than that . . she was fun, creative and innovative. She had a sense of humor. She taught the basics but also introduced us to the arts (music, crafts, painting, drawing, plays, et. al.). She brought in a 5″ black and white TV so we could keep up with the World Series and she played softball with us during recess. Fond memories of a true inspiration and educator. May she RIP.
Irene was one of the sweetest persons I’ve ever met. We shared many laughs and reminisced about Seneca, our relatives, etc. when I would be visiting her in Faulkton. What a great lady…