Wilda June Cook

Wilda June Cook, 92, died suddenly on July 5, 2017 at the Benefis emergency room. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 pm on Monday, July 17, 2017 at Redeemer Lutheran Church. Arrangements are in the care of O’Connor Funeral Home. June Cook was born on July 19, 1924 in Waverly, Ohio, daughter of Altus E. Whims and Marien Elsie (Sims) Whims. After a brief time working at the Children’s Home in Waverly, June joined the WAC, taking her basic and hospital training in Fort Oglethorpe, GA. She served at McGuire General Hospital in Richmond, VA; Camp Lee in Petersburg, VA; and Fort Meade, MD; she was discharged at Fort Sheridan, IL. June met her husband, Willard, at Camp Lee. After both were discharged from the army, they were married at her parents’ home in Waverly on November 10, 1946. June and Willard made their first home in Jamestown, ND, where they had two children, Daniel and Randal. The family moved to Carmel, IN, in 1962 and in 1964 they settled in Great Falls. In March of this year, June moved to The Lodge assisted living facility after Willard’s death. June was briefly a Pink Lady at the former Columbus Hospital and over the years she had been active in the Redeemer Lutheran Church and the Great Falls Genealogy Society. She loved to sew, making quilts, household items, and many of her clothes. She also enjoyed cooking and baking especially pies and cookies for Willard, her two boys, and her friends and neighbors. June is survived by sons Dan Cook (Carol) of Lakewood, CO and Randy Cook (Trudi) ofFirestone, CO; “adopted daughter” Jeri Payne of Deer Lodge, MT; brother-in-law Melvin Cook of Loveland, CO; two nieces and a nephew; special and supportive neighbors Wes, Daryl, Patty, Carla, Gary; and many friends. June was preceded in death by her husband Willard; parents Altus and Elsie; brother Arthur; and sister Naomi. Memorial gifts may be given to Redeemer Lutheran Church, 332 Riverview 3 W., Great Falls, MT 59404, or to the charity of your choice.