Diane Renae Cooper

Diane Renae Cooper, 60, of Manvel, North Dakota, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family at her home on Sunday, Dec. 24, 2017 after a battle with multiple sclerosis for more than 30 years.

Diane was born on Aug. 25, 1957 in Grand Forks, North Dakota, the daughter of Wallace and Marianne (Foley) Braaten. She attended school in Everett, Washington through eighth grade and attended Oslo, Minnesota High School, graduating in 1975. Throughout her school years, Diane played basketball, softball and was a pom-pom girl.

On May 20, 1978 she and David Cooper were married in St. Timothy’s Catholic Church at Manvel, North Dakota. Diane was blessed with two daughters and worked at Nord Door. She and her family moved to Troy in 1994 where they owned a successful tow truck company, Taz Towing. Diane was involved with the community and volunteered as a 911 dispatcher, juvenile detention officer and worked at the local lumber mill. She loved to travel, spend time camping in the great outdoors, enjoy a few games of bowling, and drink espressos.

Diane returned to North Dakota on September 9, 2001 where she lived for the remainder of her life. Diane was a member of St. Timothy’s Catholic Church and Manvel Senior Center where she played bingo with the other members. She also enjoyed spending time with friends and family, playing pinochle and telling blonde jokes.

Diane is survived by her daughters, Jennifer Spofford and Stacy Anderson; her six grandchildren — Samantha, Alexander and David Spofford, Nicole Castro, Andrew and Devin Anderson; her mother, Marianne Braaten; her mother-in-law, Carol Cooper; her brothers, Dean (Kaye), David (Michelle), Danny (Heidi) and Dale (Karla) Braaten; and her sister-in-law, Leann (Paul) Grzadzielewski.

She was preceded in death by her father, Wallace Braaten, and a brother, Dwayne Braaten.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 11 a.m. Friday, Dec. 29, 2017 in St. Timothy’ s Catholic Church in Manvel, North Dakota, with visitation one hour prior to the service in the church. Interment will be in St. Timothy’s Catholic Cemetery in Manvel in the spring.

Amundson Funeral Home (2975 S. 42nd St., Grand Forks, North Dakota) is in charge of arrangements. An online guestbook is at www.amundsonfuneralhome.com.