Benton Cooper Obituary

I sign this book in memory of a truly decent and good man, my uncle,

Ben Cooper.



Thank you for all the wonderful times in Idaho, for the twinkle in your eye and your numerous kindnesses. I am sure you will be missed by your many friends in Sun City.



I am so pleased you came to England to visit us and that my children Nathalie and William were able to meet you. Idaho is a part of their heritage too. My son has Grandpa Cooper's mining lamp on the chest of drawers in his room that you handed down to him. The legacy of those hardworking pioneers continues.



I will always remember you and shall not forget those magnificent summers in Idaho, by the creeks and rivers with the mountains in the distance.



Farewell to a good man, the world needs more like you.



Your Loving Niece,



Patricia

Ben Cooper was my Uncle. Honorable, kind, humorous, loving, loyal to family and friends, charitable, involved, and always, a darn good friend, and teacher! Uncle Ben taught me how to fish for Trout. In the Boise Basin, Centerville, Idaho, he would take me out on Grimes creek. I recall one time, (I was only 5, I think) we went fishing. Ben was serious about catching some fish. Myself, being so young,I thought Ben would catch enough for the whole family, for breakfast! I occupied myself with throwing rocks into the creek, as Uncle Ben had all the fish in his spell. Uncle Ben looked at me with a look I'd never come across at 5 years of age. "You gonna fish, or are you gonna throw rocks?" I didn't know what to say, Uncle Ben was the fishing guru! I figured he had a limit already! I said "I think I'll just throw rocks!" Ben just looked at me wide eyed, unbelieving, then sat down on a boulder. He cast a final vitriolic stare, and said, "Then throw rocks! Let me know when you are done!" I knew something had gone very wrong. I told Ben, that I was done tossing rocks in the creek. "But you just started!" said my poor Uncle! "I don't wanna throw rocks any more Uncle Ben." I was in a spot by then, I was probably getting teary eyed as well! We stared at each other for a spell. I was a bit spooked as to what might happen next. Uncle Ben burst out laughing, "Come on John Mark! Let's head home to Grandma and Grandpa's and fry some Trout!" We drove back to the Homestead in that wonderful Willy's Jeep my Grandpa had. I remember the smell of that Jeep, combinations of motor oil, grease, fresh caught trout, grass, sage brush, Huckleberries even! For this 5 year old, it was the most wonderful perfume! Ben Cooper was my best friend when I was a kid, as long as I could make it up to Idaho. Later, when I was 14 or 15, we would stay at Ben and Neoma's in Haily/Bellvue, Idaho. Uncle Ben set myself and my friend onto the Big Wood River, and turned us loose. With his previous encouragement and insight, we caught Trout to 24" daily. By this time, I had quit throwing rocks into the creek. I was throwing myself into the river, to cross to the other bank instead. We became one, with the water, the riparian terrain, and the currents of a good sized river. Ben Cooper taught me how to be at home in nature, in the rivers, and at the hearth as well. Ben instilled a love of Nature into my core, that I have unto this day. If you are at peace with Nature, and God's world, you are certainly lucky. Thank You, Uncle Ben. You gave me the knowledge to be a lucky man. The best luck I ever had though, was to have you for my Uncle. Thank You. I'll see you and the family, when I get there.