Life Story of Cleo Earl Cook-Part 2

LIFE HISTORY OF CLEO EARL COOK

Written by Ruth Elizabeth Proctor Cook

Cleo Earl Cook

The family moved from Taylorville to Shelley, then to Ucon, then to Coltman.  This is where Cleo graduated from the eighth grade.  He had a chance to go on to school if he would go and live with another family, but it was decided that his Dad needed him to help him on the farm.  So Cleo didn't go on to school.

Dad's eighth grade graduation picture.  He is the second from the left.

     From Coltman the Cook family moved to Grant.  They farmed there awhile and then moved to Roberts, Idaho.  While living in Roberts, Cleo helped his Dad run the farm which was north of Roberts.

Dad washing car in Roberts, Idaho

  Cleo and Carl bought a wind charger for their folks so they could have lights when they wind blew.  Cleo herded sheep for Will Havens and sorted potatoes for August Muelifiet in Coltman.  It was while living in Roberts that Cleo's younger brother Vergil was called to his heavenly home, leaving a bride of five months and an unborn child. 

Cleo and Vergil

Vergil had asked Cleo that if anything happened to him if he would help his wife.  So Cleo assuming his duties as a brother, grew very fond of his brother's widow and fell in love with her.  On 20 December 1939, he was married to Ruth Elizabeth Proctor Cook in the Salt Lake City Temple.

Mom and Dad

Ruth Elizabeth Proctor & Cleo Earl Cook

A son was born to Ruth on 31 August 1939.  He was named Vergil Franklin Cook.  He was like Cleo's own son and he raised him as if he were his own.

Vergil Franklin Cook

Cleo and Ruth lived on a farm north of Roberts, Idaho and took care of Cleo's sisters and brother while Cleo's parents were on a mission to California.  They lived in two rooms upstairs. 

Home in Roberts 

Dad, Frank and Grandpa Cook (James Edward) in front of home in Roberts

Mother and Frank in front of home in Roberts

When the folks came home from their mission, Cleo and Ruth moved into Roberts and rented a two room home from Bessie Jones.

Dad and Mom

They started their family tree there.  A son was born in Rigby, Idaho on 24 May 1941.  He was named Theron Earl Cook, now Franklin had a brother. 

Theron Earl Cook

The folk's decided to quit farming, so Cleo bought his father's farm machinery.  His folks moved into Roberts and Cleo and Ruth moved back out to the farm.  Then to their family tree they added another beautiful daughter.  She came into their home 6 November 1943 and was born in Rigby, Idaho.  They named her Joyce.

Joyce Cook

Frank and Joyce in front of home in Roberts

  Ruth picked out her name and Cleo picked out the name of their other beautiful daughter, who came into the family tree on 11 March 1947.  She was also born in Rigby.  When Lois was named Cleo picked out her name because he had been going with a girl named Lois before he started going with Ruth.  Ruth always kidded him and said if I didn't get a Lois one way, I'd get her another.

Lois Cook

One night Cleo, Ruth, Carl, and a few others, decided to have a chicken supper.  They went over to Wayne and Vendetta Wilson's, Cleo's sister's home in Grant.  Wayne and Vendetta were in bed as it was quite late at night.  Vendetta had been raising some fryers.  They went into the chicken coop and caught the fryers, killed them, and then went in and woke up Wayne and Vendetta so they could all have a chicken supper.  They didn't tell them it was their chickens they were eating until many years afterward. 

Vendetta Cook Wilson

Also one night Cleo decided to go across the road and get some chickens from a neighbor.  The man had them in a tent and he was sleeping in the tent.  One of the chickens squawked and the man woke up.  He made a grab for Cleo and caught him, but Cleo pulled away.  He was one frightened guy that night.  Cleo used to go to Agnes and Bill's home and raid their fridge and cupboards.  Agnes said it always made her feel good that Cleo would come and see her and feel so much at home.

Agnes Christine Cook Levin

While living in Roberts, Cleo worked in the Sunday School with Arthur Jensen and Bert Berrett.  He was Arthur's counselor.  He also went to Idaho Falls and did Temple work quite often.