Funeral services for Bertha Cooper, age 89 of Bison, will be held at 11:00am Wednesday, May 26, 2010 at the First Presbyterian Church in Bison. Pastor Florence Hoff will officiate with burial in the Bison Cemetery.


Bertha Cooper passed away on May 22, 2010. She was born on March 17, 1921 to Christ and Emilia (Ackerman) Fried. She was raised on a farm northeast of Bison and attended Hooker grade school.

She was married to Francis Jackson on August 30, 1942. To this union were born five children, Judy Jerde (deceased); Linda Heiner (deceased); Robert Jackson and Dan Jackson, Bison and Candy Brandhagen, Rapid City, SD. They resided on a farm on the outskirts of Bison. Francis passed away on July 9, 1958.

Bertha married Milford Cooper on August 12, 1961. Together they raised their family and ran the Bison Lumber Co. Bertha worked in the office as the bookkeeper. They sold the lumber company in 1972. Bertha and Milford enjoyed many years of retirement together until Milford was taken ill and passed away on December 28, 1995.

Bertha continued to live in Bison where she spent time with her children and many friends. She loved working in her flower gardens and was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church in Bison. In September of 2009 Bertha suffered a stroke and entered the Fountain Springs Nursing Home in Rapid City. She passed away there on May 22, 2010.

She is survived by her sons Robert (Gladys) Jackson and Dan (Sherri) Jackson, both of Bison and one daughter Candy (Lynn) Brandhagen of Rapid City, SD; 11 grandchildren-Lynette (Jerde) and Marshall Michaels, Rapid City; Dee Ann (Jerde) and Eric Hofer, Bath; Mark (Melonie) Heiner, Harrisville, Utah; Candace (Heiner) and Kim Goddard, Morgan, Utah; Darren Jackson, Minneapolis, MN; Derek Jackson, Spearfish; Lynn (Jackson) and Eric Wanner, Bismarck, ND; Jamie Jackson, Bison; Cassie (Landphere) and Josh Besler, Sommerset; Brandon Landphere, Bison; and Bree Ann Brandhagen, Rapid City; 13 great grandchildren; two sisters-Lillian (Robert) Bohnet, Bismarck, ND; Ruth Friez, Glendale, AZ; two brothers-Herb (Donna) Fried, Shadehill; Bert (Mildred) Fried, Sturgis; two sister-in-laws-Mary Ellen Fried, Meadow and Helen Fried, Selfridge, ND and numerous relatives and friends.

Bertha was preceded in death by her parents Christ and Emilia Fried, Lemmon; two husbands-Francis Jackson and Milford Cooper, Bison; two daughters-Judy Jerde, Pierre and Linda Heiner, Morgon, Utah; brothers Ted Fried, Meadow and Albert Fried, Selfridge, ND and two sisters-Betty Hoff and Dorothy Plocek both of Spearfish.


Visitation will be from 9:00 to 11:00 am on Wednesday at the First Presbyterian Church in Bison. A Memorial has been established to the First Presbyterian Church in Bison.