Timothy Cook

Williston

Retired Colonel Timothy Ross Cook, 81, Williston, formerly of Mohall, died Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Mandan.

Tim was born in Dickinson, to Ross and Norma (nee Renden) Cook Oct. 3, 1943. Shortly after, the family moved to rural Mohall. Tim spent his first three years of elementary school at Renville Corner country school, then transferred to Mohall Public School, graduating in 1961.

In 1966, Tim graduated from NDSU with a degree in Pharmacy. He was a member of Kappa Psi. Following graduation, he enlisted in the Army serving two tours of duty in Vietnam in the Medical Service Corp, first as a Pharmacy Officer, then as Medical Operations Assistant with the 3d Battalion, 1st Infantry.

Following discharge from the Army in 1969, Tim earned his MBA at Arizona State University at Tempe. He then re-enlisted in the Army and served as a Pharmacist at Walter Reede Army Hospital, the Pentagon, and Director of Pharmacy at 2nd General Hospital at Landstuhl Germany near Ramstein Air Force Base.

While in Germany, Tim married Lois Freisleben and Tim became dad to her daughter, Jennifer Paris. Tim’s proudest moment came in 1993 when Marian Jessica was born. He was devoted to her. Upon Tim’s retirement, the family moved to Williston.

Never content to be idle, after retirement from the Army, Tim worked as a civilian recruiter for medical personnel for Army bases in Germany, Italy and South Korea.

Tim loved his family and friends with undying devotion. Having been a bachelor until he was 48, Tim was a loving “Uncle Lushwell” to his nieces and nephews. He never lost touch with his high school, college, and Army friends, and attended as many high school and Vietnam reunions as he was able.

He is remembered for his excellent recall of birth dates and family connections for everyone he grew up with. “Ask Tim” was always the response when someone wanted to know family history for anyone in Mohall. Doing the right thing and politeness were part of his DNA. Even the caregivers who had brief encounters with Tim noted his kindness.

He had an insatiable appetite for knowledge, history, and travel and wanted to share the world with others, creating opportunities for his sister and niece to experience more of both the United States and Europe than they would otherwise have been able to.

Family: Tim is survived by his devoted sister, Judith Duerre; daughter, Jennifer; nieces, Sonja Duerre Stromswold, Courtney Cook, Brooke Badjie; nephew, Blaine Cook; and former wife, Lois.

His beloved daughter, Marian, preceded Tim in death; as well as his parents; brother, John Cook; special aunt, Marian Cook; nephew, Nathan Duerre; and nephew-in-law, Mark Stromswold.

Funeral: 1 p.m., Monday, March 24, 2025, at Zion Lutheran Church, Mohall.

Burial: Mohall Community Cemetery, Mohall.

Visitation: 11 a.m. until the service time, Monday, at the church. Friends may also sign the online guestbook at brosefuneralhome.com. (Brose Funeral Home, Mohall)

Published by The Minot Daily News, March 21, 2025.