William (Bill) George Cook passed from his mortal journey on Monday June 17, 2024 at the age of 91. He was born on June 4, 1933 to Ray and Lucille Cook in Independence, WA. He was the 3rd of 7 children.

His early years consisted of working on ranching, dairy, and fruit farms. He learned to work hard at an early age and that continued throughout his life. Due to family need, he only received an 8th grade education, after which he needed to help full-time on the family farm.

Bill was drafted into the Army at age 18 and served as an office worker/medic post Korean War. After his honorable discharge from the Army, he went to Eastern Washington State College in Cheney, WA to become an Elementary school teacher because education was important to him. He taught grades 4th , 5th , and 6th  depending on the need at different schools for nearly two decades.

Bill worked hard during the summers in his garden. Some of his summers were spent tending to the cemetery grounds while he lived in Three Forks, MT.

Gardening was a big part of his life. Many people benefitted from the fruits of his labors. He was always willing to talk about gardening to anyone who would listen.

Bill was very active and adventurous. He liked to go hiking, hunting, fishing, camping, skiing, and four-wheeling.

Bill was married to Della Alby in 1957 and later divorced. Of this union, Craig and Christine were born.

Bill was later married to Ardis LaVon Day for about a decade before she passed away in 1977.

Bill married Lois Elaine Meldrum in 1981 and became the parents of Carol, Kathryn, and James.

Bill has been a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints since his baptism in 1969 and served in many callings. His greatest quest in life was to know and understand God. He attended the temple at least once a week for many years. This was a great source of peace and comfort to him.

Bill is preceded in death by his parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and most of his siblings.
He is survived in death by his wife Lois, his children, Craig (Suki), Christine (C.A.), Carol (Chris), Kathryn, and James, as well as his grandchildren, great grandchildren, his sister Karen, and multiple nieces and nephews.

A funeral will be held in his honor at the Rexburg 1st Ward building (314 E 2nd N in Rexburg, ID) on Friday, June 21 at 2 pm. A viewing will be held at 1 pm in the same building.

In lieu of flowers, please share a memory you had with Bill.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, June 21, at the Rexburg North Stake Center.  The family will receive friends Friday from 1:00 to 1:45 p.m. at the stake center prior to services.  Interment will be in the Fairview Cemetery in Montana.

Services will be broadcast at: https://my.gather.app/remember/william-cook-2024