Eleanor (Hoffman) Gappert Cook

Eleanor (Hoffman) Gappert Cook of Oroville, Wash. and Valle del Oro, Mesa, Ariz. went to heaven on Tuesday, February 18, 2014 with her family by her side. Eleanor (Hoffman) Gappert Cook, known to all as “Ms. Ellie,” was born on July 15, 1929 to George and Barbara Hoffman.

She grew up on a farm near Center, N.D. with six sisters. Ms. Ellie attended a country one-room school house near the family farm. She did not attend High School because her father thought it was not important for girls. As always with her spunk and determination, Ms. Ellie completed her GED in later years.

Ms. Ellie married Gordon Gappert on March 21, 1944. Gordon and Ellie farmed for 27 years near New Salem, N.D. where they raised six children. The family enjoyed many horse drawn sled rides to Grandpa Gappert’s and Grandpa Hoffman’s homesteads for holidays and card games. At the age of 20, Ms. Ellie, pregnant with their fourth child, was accidentally shot in the foot while rabbit hunting across the rough fields. She was fortunate to be treated by a WWII doctor who was well-known for his expertise in gunshot wounds. In 1972, Ms. Ellie and Gordon relocated to Washington State where they worked together in the apple orchards until 1984 when Gordon passed away.

Ms. Ellie met Lon Cook, known for his long handle bar mustache, at Fao’s Restaurant. They were married on New Year’s Eve 1986. She started “Ms. Ellie’s Jellies” with Lon. They grew and processed their huckleberries which were sold all across the country. Ms. Ellie and her jellies were well-known at Pike Place Market in Seattle.

After Lon’s death on July 5, 2006, Ms. Ellie began wintering in Mesa, Ariz. at Valle del Oro. Ms. Ellie enjoyed many wonderful activities with dear friends and family such as, church, active singles, Red Hat Group, riding the buses to the casino, Bingo and many, many more events. Ms. Ellie’s summers were spent in Oroville, Wash. where she celebrated July 4th and the Chesaw Rodeo with many of her family members. In the recent years, Ms. Ellie and Russell Sellars, a good friend, enjoyed traveling to Las Vegas for the National Finals Rodeo.

Ms. Ellie is survived by five sisters of Bismarck, N.D., Clem Hoff, Josephine Mosbrucker, Clara Ferderer, Irene Miller, Lorraine Hoffman along with numerous nieces and nephews, her five children and spouses, 14 grandchildren and 28 great-grandchildren and soon to be great-great grandchild; daughter-in-law, Charmaine (Gappert) Hayfield (husband, Kirk and daughter, Melissa), grandson, Greg Gerald Gappert, son of Gerald Gappert. Daughter-Bonnie (Derald) Johnson, children: Randy (Michelle) and three children, Russ (Dawn) and three children and Robbyn (Scott) Creel. Daughter-Joan (LLoyd) Woodbury, children: Jessie VanLishout and three children, Nichole (Chris) Glens and three boys, Walt (Stephanie) and 4 boys. Son-Jim (Kathy) Gappert, children: Heather (Aaron) Gappert-Hochhalter and two girls, Holly (Eric) Gappert-Provost and two boys, Jimmy Gappert (Kate) and one boy. Son-Roy (Becky) Gappert: children: Beth Gappert and Sarah Gappert and two girls. Daughter-Joy- (Larry) Hirsbrunner, children: Dustin (Amy) Hirsbrunner and three children, Heidi Hirsbrunner.

She was preceded in death by her oldest son, Gerald Gappert, and husbands Gordon Gappert and Lon Cook, and one sister who died in childhood.

Ms. Ellie taught her friends and family how to play cards and games, tell stories and dance to old time music. Her life can only be summarized by her grandson, Dustin Hirsbrunner’s quote:

“There’s a saying, “Life’s journey is not to arrive at the grave safely, but to skid in sideways screaming holy #*@& what a ride!

That saying epitomized my Grandma Ellie. She lived life to the fullest and had a blast the whole journey. Gonna miss ya Grandma!” As we all will miss our mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, aunt, great-grandmother and dear friend.

A Graveside Service for family and friends will be Saturday, March 15 at 1 p.m. at Riverview Cemetery in Oroville.