Darrell James Cook-Journal Part 5

Darrell James Cook, Ruth Elizabeth Proctor Cook, Becky Sue Walker Cook
14 June 1975

Tuesday 8 January 1974

School has finally started.  I have been going now for two days and it seems like 2 months.  I sure do hate to start studying again.  I sure did like the vacation.  I will be glad when I’m done.  Whenever I see a boy with his girl, I miss Becky so darn bad.  I had to stoop and see her today at noon.  Only 158 days left.  Kim and Marcene are getting married the 22^nd of February.  Tomorrow I’m going to stop and see the dentist.  I broke my front tooth today biting on a piece of frozen chocolate.  He said to come in Thursday at 1:15 but I have a basketball game tomorrow night and Becky is going to go so I want to get it fixed.  I will be so glad when school is over.  We are going to look at some apartments for rent.  I’m sure we will be able to find one we like for a pretty reasonable price.  I’ll be glad when that time is here.  Maybe we will be able to keep renting it during the school year.  I sure hope we can.

Thursday 16 January 1974

Here it is the 16^th already.  The past few days have gone fast for me.  I’m starting to like school a little better now.   The classes I have aren’t too bad.  Mom sure is doing a lot better.  She is now starting to walk with crutches.  Not too well at first but she is doing real good now.  She sure has had a lot of patience and faith.  I wish I had as much as she has.  I went and talked to Wayne Poole today about working.  He said that I could.  He wouldn’t need me every day but most of the time I would be able to work.  It will be a lot better than the school.  They never have anything for me to do.  I went over and seen my future wife tonight.  Sure seemed good to be with her.  I miss her so much when I can’t see her for three or four days.  I’ll be glad when we are married and have an apartment of our own.  Then I can see her smiling face and touch her soft face every day.  Each time I see her it gets harder and harder to leave. Someday I won’t have to or else she will be able to go with me.  I love her so much.  I will be glad when she is mine.

Sunday 24 February 1974

     Wow.  It sure has been a long time since I wrote in here.  More than a month.  I sure have had a lot of things happen.  First of importance is today it has been a year since Becky and I have been going out together.  Today we went snow machining at the same place we went a year ago.  That was the first time I went out with her.  My love has grown so much for her.  A year ago I never thought I would be engaged to her.  I love her so much and each day I can feel it grow and grow.  I’ll be glad when we are married.  Only 111 days left.  Kim and Marcene got married Friday the 22^nd.  It was real nice but ours will be a lot nicer.   Becky has her material for her dress bought and her bridesmaids’ material picked out.  We looked at some flowers for Becky while we were in Rexburg and I got an idea of what she wants.  I want to get her a real nice one.  We have the announcements picked out and the lists made up.  It took me a while but I finally made it.

     In basketball Rigby isn’t doing too well.  I think they won about 5 games all year.  They played Skyline in tournament at Ricks last week and got the heck beat out of them.  They play Bonneville Tuesday and I imagine they will get beat then.  Oh well the last one we will have to go to.  In church basketball we got second in stake and now are playing region.  Roberts took first.  The first game we played Lewisville II and we got beat. We couldn’t hit anything.  The next night we played Garfield and with no time left I made two foul shots to win the game 59-58.  It was a good game.  I wish Becky could have been there.  Mom sure was excited and I didn’t realize what I had done until a few minutes later.  The next night Driggs had to forfeit because one of their best players hurt his ankle.  It was a good thing because we would have only had five players.  It was Kim and Marcene’s reception.  We don’t play now until Wednesday.  We play the winner of Lewisville II and a St. Anthony team.  I hope we win.  If we win 2 more we get to go to zone.  Well guess I had better go.  I have school tomorrow unfortunately.  Good night.

Sunday 3 March 1974

Well not a heck of a lot has happened the past little while.  Got beat of tournament.  Although we did beat Lewisville II but lost to Roberts.  Only 6 more weeks of school then my first year of college will be over.  What a relief.  Becky got the top to our wedding cake.  It sure is cute.  Also R & G’s gave her a wedding book so that’s one thing I won’t have to buy.  Only 103 days left until she is mine.  Hope times goes fast.  We went to Rexburg the other day and she got the material for her bridesmaids and most of the stuff for her wedding dress. I also got some kind of idea to what she wants for flowers for her.  They also have a garden scene for an extra $35.  She said she would pay half if I would.  I don’t know but I guess we will probably get it.  Kim Hunting is going to start to over-haul my car as soon as the weather gets warm enough.  I hope that isn’t too long.  I’m trying to get the clutch on my Rat fixed.  Pinecrest has my Honda over-hauled now.  I guess Kay is coming up next weekend.  Then it it’s nice we will go bike riding. I talked to him tonight on the phone and I asked him if he would be my best man and he said he would be glad to.  I think I’ll have Frank stand where Dad would and have Theron as another best man.  If Frank can’t come I’ll have Theron stand there and only have one best man.  I’m going to ask Max and Mark to be ushers.  Becky said that her brother couldn’t come up.  Her parents said we could stay in their trailer for our honeymoon.  We will probably take the pickup and camper also.  I guess we will go through the park and see everything and then go over to Jackson for awhile.  It will depend on where I work and how long I can get off.  It will also depend on where she works too.  I sure will be glad when that time comes.  It so hard to leave her.  I love her so much and each day I love her more and more.  I will be glad when I’m done with school then she won’t have to work.  That’s the last thing I want her to do.  House work is enough.  Oh and taking care of all twelve kids (Ha Ha) should keep her busy.  I want to make her the happiest person in the world.  It’s pretty late so I better go.  Good night.
     This is the last entry that Darrell wrote.  Oh how I wish there was more.

Theron Earl Cook, George Kay Cook, Darrell James Cook
Ruth Elizabeth Proctor Cook, Joyce Cook Wilson, Lois Cook Berrett
Darrell and Becky's Temple Sealing 14 June 1975

     Darrell and Becky were married 14 June 1974 in Rigby, Idaho and a year later on 14 June 1975, they were sealed for time and eternity in the Idaho Falls, Idaho Temple.  Natalie Jill was born to them 8 January 1977.
     Darrell worked for the Union Pacific Railroad as brakeman.  He enjoyed working for the railroad but unfortunately one night while helping to switch the cars, the train jumped the track and Darrell was crushed between the train and the side of the potato warehouse where they were moving cars.  He was killed instantly.  The accident was just a half block from their home in Menan, Idaho.  This tragic event took place the night of 9 February 1979.

George Kay Cook one last time with his brother Darrell James Cook

Darrell's headstone in the Annis Little Butte Cemetery

     Darrell and Becky had been married less than 5 years and were expecting their second children when he was killed.  Brandy Sue was born 31 May 1979 just about 4 months after Darrell was killed.

Above is a plaque that hangs in the Union Pacific train depot in Pocatello.  Darrell's name is the fourth one on the top row.  I put a box around it but that doesn't show up real well. Thanks to John Berrett for taking the picture and sending me a couple of it.

We miss you and love you so much.  We are trying to be good so that we can see you again some day and be where we know you are.  You were and are our very special brother!!