William Manley Cooper, 72, of St. Mary, MT, passed away on Sunday, March 26, 2017.  A Memorial Service will be held Friday, March 31st at 1:00 PM in the Babb, MT Catholic Church.  A special ceremony by the family, to scatter his ashes, will be held in the Rocky Mountains on the Continental Divide and Triple Divide Mountains - the beautiful place that Bill loved so much.

Bill was born August 29, 1944 in Browning, MT to Irene Helen Bull Shoe and Manley John Cooper.  All of Bill’s life he was a horseman, from early childhood until his health did not permit him to ride horseback any more.  He was an Outfitter’s Assistant in the Swift Dam Mountain area.  He spent several years working in the oil fields north of Cut Bank. 

Bill worked on several ranches across the Blackfeet Reservation, including CC- out north, past Houseman Hill.  There is a custom on the reservation for a community member to go stay with noted families up and down Two Medicine, Big Badger, Birch Creek and Cut Bank rivers.  Bill stayed with families and he was always welcome in the families’ homes and yet today they are all valued friends.  A part of his childhood was at Cooper Lake, located between Big Badger and Little Badger.  Bill returned to Cooper Lake to fish, camp and cook out with good food, family and friends.

Bill’s love for the North Country was his greatest treasure.  He lived on the side hill in his trailer at Lower Lake.  In recent years, all the family and friends would find him or see him driving around St. Mary’s Lake, weather permitting.

All the relatives and family who have crossed over (deceased) before him are his parents; brothers, Angus, Joseph, Alvin Paul “Buster” Pollock, Vernon Lee Cooper, Gerald Darren Cooper; sisters, Rita Irene Pollock Williamson and Carol Ann Cooper Arrow Top.

Living relatives include his sisters, Marie Cecile Pollock Brewer and Betty Nell Cooper (New Breast); daughter, Billi Jo and grandchildren; sons, Eddy and Manley and grandchildren; aunt, Mollie Bull Shoe; several cousins, nieces, nephews and lifetime friends and neighbors. 

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