Larry Cooke

Larry Cooke, 90, of Victor, Id., passed away on January 8, 2025, at East Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls.

Larry was born April 21, 1934, in Kimberly, Idaho, to Lawrence Leland and Doris Grace Douglas Cooke. He spent his early years in Pocatello, until his mother passed away when he was a young child. After that, he and his siblings moved around quite a bit, receiving their education from Arco to Moise, Mt., California, and back to Pocatello.

At 17 years old, he started working for the telephone company as a lineman. This is where he met the Humble family from Victor, Id., fell in love with their hometown, and married their youngest daughter, Murrel. They were married in the Idaho Falls Temple on February 13, 1953.

They moved around a lot for a few years, traveling with the phone company, and welcomed their first two sons, Kim and Brett, during that time. They found a home in Labelle, Idaho, where they spent a lot of great years making life-long friends. In 1965, they bought their first 80 acres in Victor on Warm Creek at the headwaters of the Teton River, fulfilling Larry’s dream of being a cattleman. Within a few years, they secured a few more purchases and leases to eventually run about 1000 acres, not including a summer forest allotment. When Kim and Brett were in high school, the family became complete with the addition of another son, Casey.

The Cookes farmed barley and hay, ran cattle, and milked cows over the years. Hard work and long hours were a family affair. Many of the years involved hitching up horses to a sleigh or wagon to feed after milking cows. Larry was a jack of all trades. He could fix just about anything and knew how to do almost everything. His kids proudly called him “the inspector,” knowing he would show up to help with every project. Every day of his life involved a project and something that needed to be done. Warm Creek Ranch was truly his lifeblood.

Larry loved a fresh garden, complete with a thriving greenhouse. Murrel loves a large yard with many flowers. Between the two, they remodeled and brought a little old farmhouse to life with a gorgeous, thriving yard they are very proud of. Larry loved to fish. Jackson Lake and Palisades were his favorite places in summer and winter. He had a snow plane that he proudly ran on Jackson Lake to ice fish until the day came that they were no longer legal.

Larry was a well-known conversationalist, which led him to many years of public service. He started in Ririe as a member of the Lions Club. He was later elected as Teton County Commissioner, serving two terms. He was an active board member for Trail Creek Sprinkler Irrigation Company and a board member on the Teton Valley Hospital and the Teton County Fair Boards over the years.

Larry was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where he served in many callings.

Larry was preceded in death by his parents, sister Donna McTee, sister Shirley McNeil, and brother Thomas Cooke, who died in infancy. He is survived by his wife, Murrel; sons--Kim (Jannifer) Cooke of Victor, Brett (Anita) Cooke of Driggs, Casey (Jacki) Cooke of Victor; grandkids--Colleen (Dave) Erickson of Arimo, Stacy (Alicia) Cooke of Stuttgart, Germany, Leslie (Travis) Sorensen of Grafenwoehr, Germany, Craig (Sylvia) Cooke of Teton, Kyle (Mari) Cooke of Tetonia, Cassie (Jake) Kunz of Victor, Jesse (Kaylyn) Cooke of Herriman, Utah, Hailey (John) Beard of Tetonia, Sadie (McKennon) Abreu of Spokane, Washington, Cade Cooke of Victor, Libby (Lane) Hillman of Victor, Cooper Cooke of Victor and Coy Cooke of Victor. He also loved each of his 26 great-grandchildren. 

The Cooke family will host a Celebration of Life gathering at the Victor LDS Church on Saturday, January 18th, at 1:00 after a graveside dedication. Please join us for lunch, ice cream, and good conversation to honor our father, grandfather, and friend.