Vernon Lee Cooper

Vernon Lee Cooper, of Polson, went to be with his Lord on April 25, 2012. He was born on June 20, 1935 in O’Brien County, Iowa.

He grew up in Paullina, Iowa, graduating from Paullina High School in 1953. ‘Coop’ married his high school sweetheart, Arlene Mae Eschenbacher, in 1954. He had his own business, Champlain Service Station, for eight years.

Being an avid outdoorsman, he took many hunting trips and ended up falling in love with the west. He decided to move his family to Western Montana. For 29 years he served the Bitterroot Valley with Snap-on-Tools. Exploring the outdoors was a family pastime.

Vernon spent his last 23 years in Polson, as a businessman, realtor and bus driver. His grandchildren had many happy fishing memories with him at Jette Lake. He was active with his church family at Calvary Mt. Lutheran Church.

Vern is survived by his wife of 53 years, Arlene Mae Cooper; five children, Kim (Rodney) Baasch, Sheryl (Larry) Mink, Blair (Becky) Cooper, Michelle (Joseph) Bonito, Matthew Cooper; 10 grandchildren, Chad, Luke, Jonathan, Nathan, Destiny, Casey, Austin, Emily, Andrew, Jeffrey and sister, Karen Fiddelke.

He was preceded in death by parents, Clarence and Cecelia Cooper; infant daughter, Pamela; brother, Jim and sister, Colleen.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Mt. Calvary Lutheran Preschool or Lake County Hospice.

Service were held Sunday at the Mt. Calvary Lutheran in Polson. Messages of condolences may be shared with the family online at www.groganfuneralhome.com