Erma Cooper

Erma B. Cooper, age 87, of Mankato and formerly of Vernon Center, died Sunday, June 4, 2006 at Hillcrest Health Care Center, Mankato.

Funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Friday, June 9, 2006 at St. Peters Lutheran Church, Vernon Center, with Rev. John Bennett officiating. Burial will be in Vernon Center Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. Thursday at Lake Crystal Mortuary and will continue one hour prior to service at church on Friday.

Erma was born June 15, 1918 to Harry and Mary (Myer) Butson in Currie, Minnesota. She graduated from Garden City High School in 1936. Erma served her country during World War II with the U. S. Army from 1943 to 1946. She was united in marriage to Leslie A. Pete Cooper on June 11, 1948 in Vernon Center. Erma was a homemaker for her family and had been employed as a cook with the Vernon Center Public School for many years. She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Lake Crystal and a former member of St. Peters Lutheran Church. She was a member of the American Legion and a life member of the VFW Auxillary Post #950 of Mankato. Erma enjoyed reading, traveling, and camping.

Erma is survived by a daughter, Judith Twite and husband, Donald of Cedar Rapids, IA; a son, Kurt Cooper and wife, Cynthia of OFallon, IL; three granddaughters, Jennifer (James) Sundermeyer, Jennifer Cooper, Leslie Twite; two grandsons, Keith Twite, Michael Cooper; three sisters, Beulah Good of Mapleton, Mary Glaubitz of Lake Crystal, Mildred Young of Madison, MN; brother, Dale Butson and wife, Ivalea of Lake Crystal; many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband in 1999; two sisters, Ruth Butson, Verna Herlich; six brothers, Rodney, James, Earl, John, Robert, and Lee Butson.