Betty Irene Cooper, 86, rural El Dorado Springs, passed away at her home on Thursday, Nov. 17, 2016. Betty was born Jan. 22, 1930, at Clinton, to Roy and Ruby Park.
An unfortunate hunting accident resulted in her father’s death when she was two. Her mother then married Richard “Dick” Romdell, always referred to as “Dad”, of Montrose. She was raised on a farm near Bear Creek Church, where she attended regularly, and went to school at Montrose.
On July 21, 1945, Betty married Thomas Calvin Cooper and to this union five children were born – Kenneth, Brenda, Evelyn, Ron and Thomas Jr.
They shared over 71 years together. This lifetime journey took them from the farm to Marysville, CA, back to Clinton, again to Marysville, CA, and then to Los Angeles, CA. Deciding this was not where they wanted to raise their five children, they moved back to Montrose briefly, before buying their farm just east of El Dorado Springs in 1962. Life wasn’t always easy, with health problems hitting her husband in 1967.
When the Community Springs Nursing Home opened she went to work there, starting as an aide, later becoming a charge nurse, and eventually the administrator. She worked tirelessly, juggling work, farm, children, nursing her husband back to good health for nearly two years, and a son in the Vietnam War. As times got easier, Betty decided to retire from the Nursing Home and spend more time on the farm she loved.
She was a talented musician, not reading a note, but could play nearly any instrument she picked up, and could whistle like a songbird. She liked to garden, loved her flowers and chickens, but was famous for her ability to bring family and friends together for an outstanding meal. With a pinch of this and a dash of that, there was not a better cook.
Preceding her in death were her father; dad and mother; brothers – Harold Park, Roger Romdell and Russell Romdell; grandsons – Kenneth Wayne Cooper and Timothy Dan Cooper.
Survivors include her husband, Thomas, of the home; five children – Kenneth Cooper and wife, Kathy, of El Dorado Springs, Brenda Larson of Shawnee Mission, KS, Evelyn Weigel and husband, John, El Dorado Springs, Ron Cooper of Walker, and Tom Cooper Jr. of El Dorado Springs; 12 grandchildren – Kim, Kellie, Kenda, Chris, Lorie, Britney, Tracie, Brad, Casey, Dusty, Jessie and Steth; and twenty-two great-grandchildren.
At Betty’s request there will be no services and after cremation she will return to the farm she loved.
Arrangements were under the direction of Bland-Hackleman Funeral Home.
Online condolences may be left at: www.blandhackleman.com.
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