William "Bill" R. Cooke Sr.


William "Bill" R. Cooke, Sr., 78, Togo, passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, September 26, 2015.

He was born on November 29, 1936 in Butte, Montana, the son of Richard and Ida (Anderson) Cooke. He grew up in Togo through the 8th grade, returned to Butte, where he graduated form high school in 1955. After graduation, he served in the Naval Reserves for 8 years. Bill drove Euclid trucks in the open pit mines in Montana for F & S. Construction. He married Roberta L. Gardner on March 23, 1958. The couple moved to Togo in 1960, raised their family and lived there the next 55 years. Bill was employed with Itasca County in road maintenance for 28 years, retiring in 1999.
Bill's passion were old cars and he was an excellent auto body man and mechanic.

Bill is survived by his wife of 57 years, Roberta; 3 sons, William (April) Cooke Jr. of Grand Junction, CO, Robert (Val) Cooke of Eagan, MN and Barry (Lana) Cooke of Hibbing; 4 Grandchildren, Holden, MacKenzie, Molly and Mitchell Cooke; a great granddaughter, Myliegh Cooke; and a great aunt, Vida Anderson of Cook.

SERVICES: A celebration of Bill's life will be held at the Carpenter Town Hall at a later announced date. Arrangement are with Mlaker Funeral Home in Cook. To sign the online guest book, or to leave a condolence to the family, go to: www.mlakerfunerahome.com