Charles Arthur Cook
1928 - 2010
Heaven became a little brighter as our father and grandfather, Chuck Cook, left us peacefully on April 23.
Chuck was born on August 1, 1928, to William and Althea Cook at the family home in Absarokee. He attended school in Absarokee, and graduated in 1946.
Chuck met his beautiful bride, Birdie, while attending high school and they went on to marry on June 6, 1948. They made their home in Rapelje, where they welcomed their daughter, Linda Carol, in 1949, and their son, Terry Charles, in 1954.
The family moved to Dillon in 1959, and made their home there for 41 years.
Being a very disciplined man, Chuck worked full time at International Harvester while attending college to pursue his degree in education. He graduated from Western Montana College in 1967 with a degree in history, and later went on to earn his master‘s degree in Business.
Chuck was proud to tell the story of how he was hired on the steps of the post office to teach something he was very passionate about, Montana history. He touched the lives of so many as he taught generations of families at Parkview Junior High.
Besides being an incredible teacher, Chuck wore many hats that provided him the opportunity to serve others. He agreed to be the temporary Treasurer of the First Evangelical Lutheran Church, which turned into a position he held for over 30 years. He was on the Board of Directors at Dillon Federal Credit Union, the Beaverhead Country Club, and Camp Fortunate.
He was an Elderhostel instructor in the summers, as well as the maintenance man at the school. He was chosen as the Jaycee Outstanding Man of the Year, and he was the president of the Lewis and Clark Foundation in Montana, as well as serving on the National Board of Directors.
He was very active in Kiwanis, and volunteered countless hours for United Way. He was proud to be named Volunteer of the Year in 2003 at Pompey’s Pillar, where he guided tours until his body would no longer allow him.
Though it became difficult for him to get around the Pillar, he was determined to be a part of the dedication ceremony for the new visitor’s center. In his “free” time, he enjoyed golfing and spending time with his friends and his family.
Chuck and Birdie moved to Billings in 2001 so they could be closer to their family. Upon their move, they began to travel so they could see parts of the country that they had never seen. They saw cherry blossoms on the east coast; took in some concerts in Branson, Mo.; visited their granddaughter Dana, in Alaska; made a trip down the Oregon coast and ended with their finale in Hawaii.
Chuck was reunited with his bride, Birdie, in heaven, as well as his son Terry. He also joined his parents, and his siblings, George, Hazel, Beryle, Alice and Helen.
He leaves behind his daughter, Linda (Gary) Jones; granddaughters, Dana (Jesper) Hansen, Jodi (Ryan) Rookhuizen, Shandee and Keely Cook; grandson, Cory (Nikki) Jones; great-grandchildren Taylor Orms, D’Andre Cook, Terrell Cook, Ellie Rookhuizen, Kayleeona Cook, Samantha Fina, Emmy Jones and Shale Jones. He is also survived by his siblings, Maxine, Keith, Alfred, Stanley and Doug; sister-in-law Emily Aadland (Dan); and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. He was also blessed by many lifelong friendships.
Memorials may be made in Chuck’s name to the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, or the Special K Ranch, Inc., P.O. Box 479, Columbus, MT., 59019.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, April 30, at the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, 1108 24th St. West, Billings. Interment will follow at the Rosebud Cemetery.
Arrangements are by Cremation & Funeral Gallery, and condolences may be sent online to www.cfgbillings.com.
Minnie Irene Cherney
1928 - 2010
Minnie Irene (Ervin) Cherney
born August 5, 1928, passed away April 22.
She was born on an Iowa farm and was the oldest daughter of Chester and Irene (Sash) Ervin. She grew up in Iowa, graduating from Laurel High School in 1947.
Her first visit to Montana was in 1949. She fell in love with the mountains, and after a few visits to relatives she made her decision to move to Montana. Her first job in Montana was cooking on a ranch in the Grasshopper Valley. There she met the foreman, Orville Cherney, who became her husband. Orville passed away September 16, 1991. They had two children, Kathy (Ronnie) Payne and James (Darla) Cherney.
She always thought it was “neat” that her daughter had two daughters Jo Lynn (Brad) Sherwood and Jennifer DeFord and that Jim had two sons, Mark Allen and Christopher Cody.
With Jim’s marriage to Darla, she received another granddaughter Jenny Kober. She had five great grandchildren, Victoria, Alexander, Bradly, Desiree and Mercedees.
She is survived by her sisters, Mary Helen (Dale) Devore and Dorothy Ervin, Iowa; Rosa Ervin, Cheryl (Ken) Weible; and special friends Darcy, John and Sam McClenhanas as well as a forever friend Sandi Svoboda.
There was a memorial gathering Monday, April 26, at the Bicentennial dayroom from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
There is a guestbook available on line at www.brundagefuneralhome.com.
Therlean “Joy” Merrick
1934 - 2010
Therlean “Joy” Merrick died Sunday, April 18. She was born in Butte on July 14, 1934, to Maynard and Thelma Nyhart.
She graduated from Twin Bridges High School in 1952 with honors in music, accordion and choir. She later graduated from Kinman Business College, Spokane, Wash.
Therlean married Henry A. Merrick in May, 1959, in Butte.
During her fulfilling life as a mother, grandmother, sister and friend to many, Therlean enjoyed fishing, picnics, crocheting and bowling and taking day-trips in her car. She delighted in animals, her dogs Hoochie and Mattie, backyard birds, cats, deer, puppy-breath and her Windmill rooster. She loved to play cards with her girlfriends. Pinochle and 500 Club were her favorites and senior citizens too.
Therlean was known to many friends and family as “Joy” or “Auntie Sis.” Joy was raised in the valley and felt continually blessed living in her home on the “hill” looking over the Point of Rocks.
During her business career, she worked for GE Electric-Butte; Savings and Loan, Helena; and Princess Ann Cosmetics. She was the owner of the Inn-Joy Cheese Shop at the Butte Plaza, chairman of the Ways and Means committee for the Butte Figure Skating Club, secretary of the Point of Rocks Cemetery, and brand inspector for Madison County.
Therlean was preceded in death by her parents, husband; son, Mitchell Andrew Merrick; and brother-in-law, Jerry Guinard, Dillon.
Survivors include her son, Maynard Henry “Hank” (Kristine) Merrick and granddaughter, Morgan Joy, Butte; daughter, Melanie (Jud) Keiser, Liberty Lake, Wash.; sister, Lela May Guinard, Dillon; nieces and nephews, Jimalea (Bill) Gross, children, Randon Gross and son, Shaydon, Dillon; Chrystal (Max) Miller, Toledo, Ohio; Dude (Suzie) Gross,Twin Bridges; Blaine (Janice) Van Meter, Tara Van Meter, Dillon; Cassie Stoltz, Sheridan; Duana Moss; Bridger; and Chaini Van Meter, Elizabeth, W.V.
The family received friends from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, April 11, at K&L Mortuary Chapel, Twin Bridges.
A memorial service was held at 1 p.m. Friday, April 23, in the Church of the Valley, Twin Bridges. Burial was in Point of Rocks Cemetery. A reception followed at the church.
Memorials can be made to Point of Rocks Cemetery, Twin Bridges, or Silver Star Schoolhouse, c/o Nancy Paige, 740 Bayers Lane, Twin Bridges, MT. 59754.
Condolences may be expressed at www.mtstandard.com/obits.
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