Betty Cooke (Fox) Denham, 78

Betty Cooke (Fox) Denham, 78, of Columbus, North Dakota, died Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2020, at Trinity Hospital in Minot, North Dakota, with her daughter at her side.

Betty was born Aug. 12, 1942, in Dallas to William Arthur Cooke and Marjorie Lanes Schmidt Cooke. Betty’s father was a career oil man with Mobil Oil and moved the family to Billings when Betty was a young child. She graduated from Billings Senior High in 1960 and attended the University of Wyoming where she studied accounting and pledged Pi Phi sorority.

After college, she returned to Billings to marry Melvin Fox. Together they managed the Fox family ranch at Two Dot, Montana, and had two daughters. Melissa, born in 1966, and Christine, born in 1969. Betty and Melvin divorced in 1975 but remained close friends and co-parented their girls until Melvin’s death in 1984.

Betty married Thomas Denham in 1976. Together they started a pension administration business in Denver that they later sold to their partner. At the time of Melvin’s death, he and Betty were joint owners in the Fox family cattle ranch at Two Dot and she took over full-time management. After the ranch was sold in 1987, Tom and Betty moved to Bigfork and then to Kalispell in 1999. They remained in the Flathead Valley until 2016.

Betty’s first concern was always her family and her daughters, but she also had a successful career as an accountant and a certified pension administrator. After moving to Kalispell, she worked with her daughter Christine and became an essential part of her accounting practice.

Before Betty was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008, she loved to do crafting, sewing, bowling, golfing, camping, fishing, and hosting parties at her home. After beating cancer, she preferred to be more of a home body and enjoyed reading, watching old Westerns, playing cards with friends, and was an avid genealogist. She was extremely proud to be a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, for which membership eligibility requires proof of lineal descent from a patriot ancestor who aided in achieving American independence. Betty’s heart was always in Montana, but she willingly moved to North Dakota in 2016 to be close to her daughter Christine and her family in Columbus. Though she often missed her friends in Montana, she had more friends in North Dakota than she ever realized. She left an impression on everyone she met with her sweet smile, wonderful sense of humor, and friendly personality.

There was so much more to this beautiful lady than can be summarized in a few paragraphs. She lived an extraordinary life and was loved beyond measure.

Betty was preceded in death by her parents, her brother William Michael Cooke, and her former spouse Melvin.

She leaves behind her husband, Thomas Denham, of Columbus, North Dakota; daughters, Melissa (Tim) Hann of Parker, Colorado, and Christine (Chad) Aasheim of Columbus; stepsons, Steven (Penny) Denham of Aurora, Colorado, and Christopher (Pam) Denham of Greeley, Colorado; and her “adopted” daughter, Joy (Jay) Blankenship, of Columbus. She also leaves behind her precious grandchildren, Mollie Aasheim who will care for Betty’s beloved dog Daisy, Rebecca Hann and son Chase Murphy, Alyson Hann and daughter Kaya Espinoza, and Cooper Hann.

A memorial service will be held in Columbus at a date to be determined.

Memories and condolences can be shared at www.thomasfamilyfuneralhome.com