Ralph Earl Cotant

1948 - 2025

September 13, 1948, ~ November 5, 2025

Ralph Cotant was born on September 13, 1948, in Pocatello, Idaho, to John O. Cotant Jr. & Alice Nixon Cotant. He joined his big brother John Oliver Cotant (JO) born in 1947. His sister Margo Ann made their family complete on November 12, 1949. Ralph grew up in Pocatello & Chubbuck. Ralph graduated from Highland High School in 1966. He attended one semester at Idaho State University majoring in pinochle and bowling! Ralph & Shirley Chesney dated through high school and were married February 14, 1969. To this marriage his 3 children were born: daughter Halli Jo in 1969, Ralph Damon in 1971, & Jeneva (Jenni) Jean in 1975. Ralph & Shirley divorced in 1978 but remained good friends until her passing in 2020. Ralph drove truck for Kraft Foods & Cotant Truck Lines and worked a short time for FMC. Ralph worked for Anheuser Busch for over 20 years until his retirement as a beer delivery guy. On February 22, 1980, Rebecca Sue (Beck) Corral & Ralph were married and resided on Hawthorne in Chubbuck. Beck brought with her Travis William Taylor, 2 years old at the time. Ralph & Becky were divorced in 1988. Ralph settled on Eve St. in Chubbuck, ID. Ralph married Christy Bingley in 1992 and divorced her in 1994. Ralph retired from Thompson Distributing in 2000 moving to Challis, ID. He wanted to get away from the big city and be close to where his kids lived. He bought property on Hot Springs Rd. and together with his brother JO and his good friend Johnny Stevenson they built a 2-story home with barn, garage & a beautiful patio. He went to work for Blue Mt. Refuse as the cardboard man in 2007. He retired from Blue Mt. Refuse in 2023. He spent his retirement years reading Western novels, watching old Westerns & sports on TV, smoking a cigar on the patio, drinking a cold Busch Light, having barbeques with his family, & spending time with his kids & grandchildren. Ralph went to a memory care facility in August 2025 in Chubbuck, Idaho. He passed away on November 5, 2025, at his son Damon's home in Rupert surrounded by family. Ralph asked Jerrod Farr, his son-in-law, to build him a pine box at the end. This was done with great honor by Jerrod, Scotty & Jacen Farr, Bobby & Mitchell Cotant. Ralph always said he lived a good life and was most proud of his kids and grandkids. He was one of a kind and will be missed so much by all his friends & family.

Ralph is survived by his brother John Oliver Cotant (Kathy), His 3 Children and their families:

Halli Hamilton ~ Jenna & Calvin McGowan (Macie & Kelleigh), Brandon Hamilton

Damon & Erin Cotant ~ Mikeal, James, Chesney, Charles, & Kassie

Jeneva (Jenni) & Jerrod Farr ~ John Scott & Kami Farr (Emory), Jessi & Wesley Parker (Jax), Jacen Farr

He was preceded in death by his parents John O. Cotant Jr., Alice Nixon Cotant, Margo Cotant Christenson, & his cousin Kent (Hardley) Cotant.