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Ruby Marie Cooper

1927 - 2021

BORN

1927

DIED

2021

FUNERAL HOME

Christy-Smith Funeral Homes - Morningside Chapel

1801 Morningside Avenue

Sioux City, Iowa

Ruby Cooper Obituary

Name: Visitation for Ruby Marie Cooper
Start: 2021-01-29T15:30:00.000Z
Location: Holy Cross Parish, St Michael's Catholic Church

Ruby Marie Cooper

Sioux City

Ruby Marie Cooper, 93, of Sioux City passed away peacefully on Sunday, January 24, 2021 at Holy Spirit Retirement Home.

Visitation will be at 9:30 a.m. on Friday at Holy Cross Parish, St Michael's Catholic Church followed by a Rosary at 10 a.m. and funeral mass at 10:30 a.m. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery. Those wishing to partake in the services may view a livestream on the Holy Cross Parish Website (https://holycrosssc.org/) or the Holy Cross Parish Facebook page (Holy Cross Parish Sioux City).

Ruby was born on Nov. 5, 1927, in Sioux City to Thomas and Albertina (Fredricksen) Jordahl. She graduated from Sioux City East High School. She was employed with New York Life Insurance and Younkers in Sioux City and Dow Air Force Base in Bangor, Maine. Ruby was a longtime volunteer at Trinity Heights Queen of Peace.

She married Bernard (Beanie) Cooper on March 26, 1951. She dedicated her life to her husband and nine children with her journey taking her from Sioux City to Bangor, Maine, for her husband's military service, back to Sioux City, then to Algona, Iowa, as the wife of the first Head Football Coach of the newly started Bishop Garrigan High School. From there she moved back to Sioux City and was the "first lady" of Bishop Heelan High School Football.

Their journey continued with her role as the wife of the University of South Dakota Head Football Coach and Athletic Director and then on to Terre Haute, Ind., supporting her husband's athletic directorship for 10 years at Indiana State University. She then spent the next many years with her husband, helping Trinity Heights Queen of Peace transform from a vision to the spiritual reality it is.

Ruby was the copilot in this successful journey. Her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and his Mother the Blessed Virgin were with her every step of the way, with rosaries routinely said on the way to countless business banquets and events. Her faith shaped every interaction. In her last years at Holy Spirit, her kindness touched all who entered her room, leaving them better for having stopped by.

Ruby is survived by her children, Mike (Sandy) Cooper of Gilbert, Ariz., Pat (Anita) Cooper of Eden Prairie, Minn., Tim (Peggy) Cooper of Eagle, Idaho, Mary (Nick) Merrigan of Vermillion, S.D., Linda Cooper of Omaha, Neb., and Chris (Craig) Johnson of Vermillion; 24 grandchildren; 31 great-grandchildren; and her sister, Charlene Rockwell of Warren, Mich.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Bernard (Beanie) Cooper; her children, Gary Cooper, Kathy Cooper, and Thomas Cooper; her parents Thomas and Albertina Jordahl; her twin sister, Ruth Callahan; and infant sister, Deloris Arlene.

Memorials in Ruby's name may be made to Trinity Heights Queen of Peace, Holy Spirit Retirement Home, or Bishop Heelan Catholic High School.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Sioux City Journal from Jan. 26 to Jan. 28, 2021.

Memories and Condolences
for Ruby Cooper

Sponsored by Christy-Smith Funeral Homes - Morningside Chapel.

10 Entries

Mary Stevens

January 20, 2025

When i think of Ruby, I see her eyes light up as she looks at Beanie.
Their love radiated!

Mary Stevens

January 20, 2023

I got to know Ruby in the later years while I was working at Trinity Heights with Beanie. I so admired the love that was obvious between the two. Beanie would often bring Ruby along to his meetings. He was so attentive to her and she always had that loving smile of appreciation.

Bob and Jerri Lynn Kull

January 30, 2021

We are thankful to have met Ruby and Beanie twentysome years ago at Queen of Peace. They both helped us in the approval process in having our wedding ceremony at Trinity Heights. We were then blessed with a daughter one year later, who we named Trinity. Our sympathy goes out to the family. May the angels lead Ruby and Beanie into paradise and watch over you. God Bless

Mary K Stevens

January 29, 2021

My sincere sympathy to the Cooper family. I worked at Trinity Heights with Beanie and my husband Don followed Beanie at Exc Dir there at Trinity Heights. Beanie included Ruby in every meeting and occasion he could. What a beautiful, loving mother you have!
Yes, I mean HAVE! Because I'm sure she, and Beanie, will continue to influence each of you from above, like it or not!! :)

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Melissa Schubert

January 28, 2021

May the Lord´s grace find your friends and family.

Eternal Affection Arrangement- BASKET INCLUDED

Angela and Brant Bemus

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Mary Kay Titus

January 27, 2021

Aunt Mom, the first time I saw you after my mom died was at Linda’s home one of her kids graduations celebration’s. I walked into the dining room, sat down and without knowing you were at the end of the table, “Heard your voice “ then, startled! Looked and saw your “LOVING FACE “. I broke down and you instantly said, it’s ok honey, I’m your mom now...” I have plenty of room in my heart, What’s eleven more!! God has blessed us all, ‘Through You’. I love you so much. Your other Mary, Mary Kay.

Golden Gopher Athletics

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Susan Callahan

January 26, 2021

Ruby was an identical twin sister to my mom Ruth. I felt the same when I was with Ruby as when I was with my mom Ruth. Same spirit, same unconditional love, same laughter, same smile! I love and miss you Aunt Ruby!