Leona Estelle Cook

of Cottonwood, South Dakota, died on Wednesday, March 30, 2005
at the Rapid City Regional Hospital in Rapid City at the age of 86

Leona Estelle Shook was born April 4, 1918, at Belvidere, South Dakota, the daughter of Tilden and Estella (Miles) Shook.

As a baby, she moved with her parents and sisters to the South Creek area, northeast of Kadoka, South Dakota. The family eventually moved to a homestead about five moles southwest of Kadoka, where she grew up near the Badlands. She received her elementary education in rural schools in that area prior to graduating from Kadoka High School in 1935. After graduation, Leona did typing for N.Y.A. and waited tables in several hotels and restaurants in Kadoka and Murdo.

Leona was united in marriage to Ohmer D. Cook on August 5, 1938, at Buffalo, South Dakota. They moved to a farm-ranch two miles west of Cottonwood, South Dakota, where they lived together for fifty-seven years, raising two sons, Rodney O. and Jerald L. Cook.

Leona attended teacher’s training classes at Spearfish and took many extension classes until graduating from Black Hills State College in 1972 with a degree in Elementary Education and Special Education. She taught rural school in Jackson, Haakon, Pennington, and Stanley counties and grade school at Cottonwood and Interior. Her teaching career spanned twenty-one years.

Her husband Ohmer preceded her in death on March 31, 1995.

Leona continued to live on the farm-ranch west of Cottonwood until moving into Philip in 1998.

Leona was a member of the United Church of Philip, a member of the South Dakota Retired Teachers Association, a 4-H leader and a member of the Interior Current Events Club.

Grateful for having shared her life include two sons Rodney Cook and his wife Mary of Quinn, and Jerald Cook and his wife Andrea of Cottonwood; four grandchildren Wendy Madsen and her husband Jeff of Kadoka, Jeremy Cook and his wife Charity of Rapid City, Janice Chataignier and her husband Tom of Paris, France, and Robert Cook of Rapid City; four step-grandchildren, Alice, Mary, Pete and Bill; seven step-great-grandchildren; one sister Doris Herring of Sturgis, South Dakota; and a host of other relatives and friends.

In addition to her husband Ohmer, Leona was preceded in death by her parents, and two half-sisters Elizabeth Shook and Harriette Cooney Osborn.

Closed-casket visitation was held 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Monday, April 4, at the Rush Funeral Home in Philip.

Funeral services was held 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, April 5, at the United Church in Philip, with Pastor Mark Ford officiating.

Interment was in the Masonic Cemetery, Philip, South Dakota.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial is established.

FUNERAL SERVICES
Tuesday, April 5, 2005 10:00 a.m.
United Church
Philip, South Dakota
CLERGY
Pastor Mark Ford
MUSIC
Maureen Palecek– Organist
Congregational Hymns
"Old Rugged Cross"
"Amazing Grace"
USHERS
Scott Brech – Grady Crew
PALLBEARERS
Roger Fortune – Melvin Smith
Larry Cvach – Larry Smith
Dana Iversen – Jerry Johannesen
HONORARY PALLBEARERS
All Relatives and Friends in Attendance
INTERMENT
Masonic Cemetery
Philip, South Dakota

Service Details

FUNERAL SERVICES
Tuesday, April 5, 2005 10:00 a.m.
United Church
Philip, South Dakota

Guest Book

I AM REGRETTING GREATLY NOT BEING THERE. I AM SPENDING THIS TIME, AS THE FUNERAL IS IN PROGRESS, IN MOURNING AND RECALLING MY YEARS WITH AUNT LEONA. SHE USED TO TELL ME WHEN I WAS LITTLE , THAT I LOOKED LIKE HER SHE WAS ALWAYS REALLY PROUD WHEN PEOPLE WOULD ASK IF I WAS HER DAUGHTER. THAT IS A VERY FOND MEMORY FOR ME. SHE GAVE ME A CERAMIC POT ONE TIME. SHE HAD GONE TO MEXICO AND SHE BROUGHT ME A BEAUTIFUL BLUE CERAMIC POT. I STILL HAVE IT. I HAVE ALWAYS TREASURED IT. IT NOW IS DISPLAYED IN MY CHINA CLOSET IN MY HOME. WELL, I SURE LOVE YOU ALL AND WISH I COULD BE THERE. LOVE, FRAN
   ~ Fran Herring Smith 7200 East County 14th St. Yuma, AZ 85365 (3/30/2005)
SORRY TO HEAR LEONA HAS PASSED AWAY. I MET HER ONCE. VERY INTERESTING LADY. SHE KNEW MY MOTHER MATILDA DINSMORE AND MY DAD FRANK BYERS DINSMORE. I DO NOT KNOW THAT DETAILS BUT I THINK SHE WAS A HALF COUSIN TO MY DAD FRANK DINSMORE. ONCE AGAIN SORRY ABOUT HER PASSING. RUBY.
   ~ Ruby (Dinsmore) Engelhaupt PO Box 28371, Oakdale, MN 55128 (3/30/2005)
Leona was a wonderful woman. She really did make our family Christmas brighter (even with Shanee's questions). Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you. We wish that we could be with you at this difficult time. Remember that we love all of you.
   ~ Shane, Janelle, and Shanee Popwell Wellington, TX (3/30/2005)
You are in my thoughts and prayers.
   ~ Kathy Swan Wall, SD (3/30/2005)