By HDN Staff
THOMAS MITCHELL KOOP, SR.
ROCKY BOY Thomas Mitchell Koop, Sr., 79, died Friday, December 15, 2000 of heart disease at a Havre hospital.
Wake services will begin Sunday evening at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Rocky Boy. Funeral services will be conducted by the Rev. Pete Guthneck at 10 a.m. Monday at the church. Graveside services with military rites will follow at 11:30 a.m. at the Highland Cemetery in Havre.
Koop was born at Reedley, Calif., to William and Barbara (Neaman) Koop on May 29, 1921. He received his formal education in California and then began working as a truck driver at age 17. He enlisted into the U.S. Navy in October 1942 and served during World War II. He was honorably discharged in March 1947.
Koop married Josephine "Punkin" LaMere on January 4, 1954 in Dinuba, Calif. They made their home in California and he continued working in the trucking business until ill-health forced his retirement in 1973. They moved to the Rocky Boy's Reservation in 1974. Josephine died April 16, 1998.
Koop was a member of the Havre V.F.W. Post and the Disabled American Veterans. He enjoyed playing cards and poker and keno machines, collecting recyclable materials, tinkering on his old GMC truck, reading newspapers, listening to daily newscasts, and watching old war movies.
Koop was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, brothers James and Clinton, and sister, Flora Powers.
He is survived by daughters, Mary Berry of Orosi, Calif., and Barbara Friede, Gloria Parisian, Kathy Koop, and Michele Koop, all of Rocky Boy; sons, Thomas Koop, Jr. of Havre, and Tim, Ted, and "Tom Tom" Koop, all of Rocky Boy; two adopted sons, Lyle MacDonald of Browning and Harvey "Joe Boy" Morsette of Rocky Boy; sister, Violet Thompson of Fresno, Calif.; 22 grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Rockman Funeral Chapel of Chester.
