Lila Cole

Lila Marie Cole, age 75, of Pillager, MN, died Saturday, June16, 2001, at the Greater Staples Hospital. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, June 21st, at 10:30 AM, in Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Staples, with Father Lauren Germann officiating. Burial will follow in the Wildwood Cemetery in Pillager. Relatives will receive friends on Wednesday evening, from 5 to 8 PM, Parish Prayers will be said at 7:45 in the Brenny Funeral Home in Staples.
Lila Marie Cole was born on May 5, 1926, near Pillager, MN, to John and Lottie (Whipple) Richmond. She grew up on the family farm and attended country school nearby. On June 7, 1949 she married James Everett Cole in North Dakota. Together they lived and worked in Kenmare, ND until 1959. They returned to the Pillager area where they continued farming. Lila ran the River Street Café in Pillager for several years and also worked at Larson Boats. She enjoyed sewing, quilting, cooking, baking, and entertaining family and friends. Lila made donuts for the Sunshine Club, and had several special friends who had emigrated from the Philippines.

Lila is survived by her 3 sons, Jack (Cora) Cole of Fallen, NV, Jim (Barb) Cole of Little Falls, MN, and Joe (Christy) Cole of Aberdeen, SD; a daughter, Janet (Boyd) Loftis of Pillager; 4 Step-Children, Loretta Hendrickson of Wahpeton, ND, Jeanette Lerfald of Kenyon, MN, Marlene (Warren) Kort of Brainerd, MN, and Arnold (Connie) Cole of Pillager; a sister, Julia Gochanour at the Staples Care Center; 18 Grandchildren; 25 Great Grandchildren; 7 Great Great Grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Everett in 1999; 7 brothers, Bob, Ernest, Clyde, Burt, Jim, Charley, and John; 6 sisters, Mary, Agnes, Gracie, Katy, Bertha, and Virginia; 1 Grandson; 1 Great Granddaughter; and 2 son-in-laws.