Betty Jean Cook

Betty Jean (Anderson) Cook, 89, of Siloam Springs, Arkansas, entered into the presence of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on July 5th, 2020 She was born in Chicago, Illinois on March 19, 1931. She lived across the street from the church her family attended, which was Bethel Evangelical Free Church. She graduated early at the age of 17 from Chicago Christian High School in January, 1949. She then attended John Brown University, and majored in Elementary Education. While at JBU, she met the love of her life, Bob Cook. They met the first night of school in the fall of 1949 at a bonfire at the bottom of the 100 steps. Betty was a telephone operator at JBU, and soon after they met, Bob picked up a ringing phone in the boys’ dorm, and Betty was on the other end. They both claim neither one made the call, and said, it must have been God that rang the phone because He wanted them together! They talked for a while, and Bob asked Betty out on their first date. They were married on December 23, 1950, and enjoyed 67 years of marriage. Bob served in the army and Betty joined him in England for 18 months. They lived in Griffith, Indiana, Holland, Michigan (where Bob attended Hope College), Clarendon Hills, Illinois, Ludington, Michigan, Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Siloam Springs, Arkansas. Betty was a substitute teacher, a beloved preschool teacher, church pianist, sang in the church choir, and also taught the 4/5 year old Sunday school class in Ludington with Bob for many years. She went to many ladies’ Bible studies. But her greatest joy was spending time with her family. She always had her house decorated for all seasons and holidays, and welcomed all into her home. Her kids, grandkids, and now great grandkids were her pride and joy. Her nieces and nephews were very dear to her also. She loved her Savior with all her heart, adored her husband, put family first, and loved people. She was preceded in death by her husband, Bob Cook, parents Ernest and Helna (Rydbeck) Anderson, and brothers Ray and Bud Anderson, and sister Lucille Mulholland Bos. She is survived by daughter Becky Lloret and husband Andrew, of Dallas Texas, daughter Sue Mellema and husband Dan, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and son David Cook and wife Stacey of Siloam Springs, Arkansas. She had seven grandkids, Kim, Drew (fiancée, Ashley), Matt (Danielle), Jeremy (Kristen), Brian (Lauren), Lauren, and Alyssa (Austin). She had 9 great grandkids, Briana, Penelope, Sam, Noah, Piper, Shepherd, Susannah, Henry, and Holly. Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m., Saturday, July 11, 2020 at Sager Creek Community Church, Siloam Springs, Arkansas. Visitation will be 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., Saturday, July 11, 2020 at Sager Creek Community Church, Siloam Springs, Arkansas. For the funeral service, guests will be limited to 245 people and everyone will be required to wear their own facemask, per the guidelines set forth by the State of Arkansas.

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Betty Jean Cook

March 19, 1931 - July 5, 2020