Richard Wayne Cook Sr., 84, passed away on Friday, May 9, 2025, at Benefis Hospital in Great Falls, MT, surrounded by his loving family. Cause of death was due to heart failure and his pure stubbornness.
Richard was born in Havre, MT on April 28, 1941, to Henry & Bertha (Pound) Cook, the oldest of thirteen children. He grew up on the family farm located southeast of Big Sandy, MT, attending the Eagleton County School through the eighth grade and graduating from Big Sandy High School in 1959. Richard met the love of his life in 1960 and married Marva Dana on July 8, 1961, in Havre, and together they had three children, Carla, Richie, and Chad. Richard worked on the family farm until he was 18 years old and then went to work for Baltrusch Construction in Havre. He left there and started working for Leland Dana from 1960 through 1965. After that, he worked for himself until 1970, and then operated his own business called Richard Cook's Ready Mix until 1972. After the death of his father, he took over the family farm until his own death.
Richard was preceded in death by his son, Richard "Richie" Cook Jr .; infant daughters, Cindy and Gemma Cook; parents Henry & Bertha (Pound) Cook; sisters, Delores (Cook) Axtman and Darlene (Cook) Poindexter; and brother, Sid Cook.
Richard is survived by his wife of 63 years, Marva (Dana) Cook; his children, Carla (Gary) Schantz and Chad (Raychel) Cook; Donna Cook (widow of Richie Cook, Jr.) grandchildren, Richard "Ricky" (Jennifer) Cook III, Dalton Cook, Kiera (Dalton) Johnston, Connor Cook, Kaitlyn Cook, Hestin Cook, Emmitt Cook, and Ahnna Cook; step-grandchildren, Sierra (Garett) Masin and Shane Schantz; honorable granddaughters, Alicia and Samantha Bjornestad; great-grandchildren, Wren Cook, Emily Johnston, Charlotte Cook, Loyd Johnston, and Benjamin Cook; step-great-grandchild, Harlow Masin; brothers, Dwight "Ike" (Julie) Cook, Roger (Lynn) Cook, Wade (Nyla) Cook, and Calvin (Patti) Cook; sisters, Sue Ann Williams, Betty (Dennis) Cook, Karen Pearson, Colleen (Jerome) Imberi and Sharon Cook; and numerous nieces and nephews.
The Celebration of Life and Cremation Burial for Richard will be scheduled at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made in Richard's honor to the Big Sandy Volunteer Fire Department. Benton Funeral Home has been entrusted with funeral arrangements. Please visit Richard's online memorial page to send a card or leave a message of condolence for his family at http://www.bentonfh.com.
