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Phyllis G. Cooper
Phyllis Georgianna (Garcelon) Cooper, 82, died peacefully of natural causes Dec. 8, 2001, at Bozeman Deaconess Hospital.
She was born April 16, 1919, to Fred and Sigra Garcelon in Duluth, Minn., where she spent her childhood years. After graduating from high school, she worked at Abbott Laboratories as a bookkeeper until she married Jack Cooper in 1948 in Clayton, Wis.
Then Jack brought his young bride to Willow Creek, and out of their love, three children were born: Robert, Mark and Lois. Together, they were successful in starting the Cooper Hereford Ranch.
Phyllis was actively involved with operations of the ranch, raising her children, cooking and feeding the hired men for many years, and successfully keeping the ranch records up to her death.
She enjoyed dancing and traveling with her husband, Jack, for many years. She was also an avid quilter. She had a wonderful talent and passion for quilting and spent many, many hours making quilts for her grandchildren and family members. Other hobbies that she enjoyed were needlework, red work, and playing cards.
Phyllis was a 50-year member of the Order of Eastern Star and worth Past Matron, Bridge Club, Willow Creek Sewing and Study clubs and a member of the Montana Hereford Auxiliary.
She is survived by her husband, Jack Cooper, of 53 years; sons, Robert (Adeline) and Mark (Cristy), and daughter Lois Zeitner (Doug); eight grandchildren: Gabrielle, Tracy (Cooper) Schopp, Kelsy, Katie, Natalie, Kellie, Chad and Kimberly. Additional survivors are her sister, Lois (Bob) Breslauer of Scotch Plains, N.J.; her nieces, Mary Breslauer of Jamaica Plains, Mass., Marilyn Caster of Kalamazoo, Mich., Susan (Ken) Welsh of Paw Paw, Mich.; and her nephew, Jim (Patti) Breslauer and his family of Huntington, N.J.
Funeral services were held Wednesday, Dec. 12, at Three Forks United Methodist Church, the Rev. Lyle Hamilton officiating.
Funeral arrangements are handled by K & L Mortuary in Three Forks.
Memorials may be sent to the Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch Foundation, P.O. Box 80807, Billings, MT 59108.
Robert J. Davis
Army veteran Robert J. Davis, 86, a retired engineer, died Saturday at Bozeman Deaconess Hospital.
He was born Sept. 10, 1915, in Opal, S.D., in a sod house on a homestead on the Wind River Reservation. He was the third of five children born to Floyd and Margaret (Jump) Davis.
In 1919, the family moved to Bridger Canyon and ranched for more than 30 years.
Robert attended Lower Bridger School and graduated with the Gallatin County High School Class of 1937. He then attended and graduated from St. Paul Bible College in St. Paul, Minn.
He enlisted in the U.S. Army on June 30, 1941, and served in the European Theater with the 1409th Engineer Search Light Detachment. Following the Battle of the Bulge in Belgium, he was severely injured by an exploding land mine. He was awarded the Purple Heart, and honorably discharged as a tech sergeant in January 1946.
After his discharge, he returned to Bozeman and met his future wife at a church hayride. He and Emma McGuire of Belgrade were married Dec. 20, 1947, at Bozeman's Gospel Tabernacle (now Grace Bible Church).
In 1950, Robert graduated from Montana State College in Bozeman with a degree in mechanical engineering.
His first job was as an engineer for the city of Great Falls. He retired after almost 30 years with the U.S. Department of the Interior, working for the Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.
His work took his family to Tacoma and to Portland; to Grand Coulee Dam in Washington state, and to Shasta Dam in Redding, Calif. He finished his career as chief engineer at Fort Lewis in Tacoma, Wash., and at the Presidio in San Francisco.
Following his retirement, he and his wife moved back to the Gallatin Valley, built their own home on the land where his wife was born, and farmed with his in-laws on their Belgrade homestead. In 1977, they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary by taking their entire family to Maui for two weeks. A few months later, they hosted a family reunion with his brothers, and traveled back to the family's original South Dakota homestead.
Robert served for years as a 4-H leader, a church deacon and usher, and a teacher for junior church and Sunday School.
In California, he served on the statewide board of directors for the national Child Evangelism Fellowship.
He is survived by Emma, his wife of 54 years; daughters and sons-in-law, including Karen of Helena, Sheryl (John Johnston) of Lincoln, Neb., and Linda (Jay Patil) of Oakland, Calif.; brothers and sisters-in-law, Clark and Pat Davis of Hacienda Heights, Calif., Willard and Mary Davis of Brigham City, Utah, and Dorothy Davis of Spokane, Wash.; numerous nieces and nephews.
Robert was predeceased by his parents; and siblings, Dorothy Meredieth and James Davis.
Funeral services were held Wednesday, Dec. 12, at Grace Bible Church. Interment will follow in Sunset Hills Cemetery. Dokken-Nelson Funeral Service is handling arrangements.
Should friends desire, memorials may be made to Grace Bible Church, 3625 S. 19th, Bozeman 59718.
Faith M. Kincaid
Faith M. Kincaid, 80, of Bozeman died Dec. 8, 2001. She was born Jan. 19, 1921, in Hillsdale, Wyo., to Flora (Whitehead) and James Lester Mercer.
She received her schooling in Wyoming.
She married Robert Kincaid Sr. in Nebraska on Oct. 12, 1940. He preceded her in death, as did her grandson, Bryan J. Peterson.
Faith was a hard-working lady who loved flowers, sunshine, her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She volunteered her time at Whittier School, listening to the children read and loving every minute of it. Walking was a high priority as she walked everywhere.
She is survived by her children: Roberta F. (Mick) Mikkelson of Belgrade, Flora M. Peterson of Tacoma, Wash., Robert T. (Ramona) Kincaid of Richmond, Va., and James L. Kincaid of Casper, Wyo.; 10 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and her brothers and sisters.
Cremation has taken place and private family services will be held at a later date.
Memorials in her name may be made to the Whittier School Library, 511 N. Fifth Ave., Bozeman 59715.
Earl "Dusty" Rhoads
Earl W. "Dusty" Rhoads, born May 2, 1920, in Roosevelt County died Sunday morning, Dec. 9, 2001.
He grew up on the family homestead and developed a lifelong love of horses and a gift for training them.
Dusty joined the military during World War II and, while stationed in Texas, met his wife, Helen "Sally" Albee, who was also stationed there.
Following their discharge, Dusty and Sally returned to Wolf Point and started their new life together.
They raised five children: David Rhoads of New Mexico, Nancy Watling of Minnesota, Janet Empie and Jeanne Johnson of Bozeman, and Dick Rhoads of California.
Dusty is survived by his precious wife of 56 years, his five children, 11 grandchildren, one great-grandchild, and two sisters.
He loved his family and sharing the joys of knowing Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior.
A private memorial service was held at Dahl Funeral Chapel Wednesday morning, Dec. 12.
