Luetta Cole

Luetta Edith Cole, 89, Bismarck, passed away on October 30, 2004, at a Bismarck hospital. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, November 2, 2004, at 2:00 PM at First Baptist Church, 3rd Street and Divide Avenue, Bismarck, with the Rev. Stephen Wisthoff and Rev. Gary Cole officiating. Burial will be at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be Monday, November 1, from 2:00 PM - 9:00 PM at Eastgate Funeral Service and will continue Tuesday, one hour prior to the service at the church. Luetta Schmidt was born on October 11, 1915, in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, the daughter of David and Anna Martens Schmidt. She moved with her parents to the United States in 1924. They settled in Gothenburg, Nebraska, where Luetta graduated as valedictorian from Gothenburg High School in 1933. She then attended Bethel College in St. Paul, Minnesota, and graduated, again as valedictorian, in 1938. On April 2, 1942, Luetta married Edward H. Cole at First Baptist Church in Bismarck. Together they had three children. Ed passed away in 1969. Luetta returned to college and received her degree in education and psychology from Mary College. She taught first grade in Bismarck for twenty years, first at Riverside Elementary and then at Will-Moore Elementary. She dearly loved the children. Luetta was a member of First Baptist Church for over sixty years. She was active in many ministries of the church, especially in the children's and youth programs. In later years, she excelled as an adult Sunday school teacher. In addition to her work in the church, Luetta was active in several community programs such as the Retired Teacher's Association and the hospital auxiliaries. Luetta is survived by her three children, Doug Bobbie Cole of Waco, Texas, Susan Dan Perkins of Kansas City, Missouri, and Gary Cheri Cole of Powers Lake, North Dakota; her seven grandchildren, Stephanie Rico DeBenedictis of Atlanta, Georgia, Michael Cole of Dallas, Texas, Christine Cole of Rio Rancho, New Mexico, Chad Jemma Perkins of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Jaime Brandon Hillman of Minnetonka, Minnesota, Heather Cole of Livingston, Montana, and Sarah Cole of Golden Valley, Minnesota; one great-grandchild, Lanie DeBenedictis; and two sisters, Terry Burlingame of Grandville, Michigan, and Della Earl Lively of Dallas, Texas. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Ed; her brothers, Eddie Schmidt and Johnny Schmidt; her sister, Verna Laverdier; and her grandson, Joshua Cole. The family requests memorials be given to the First Baptist Church Youth Scholarship Program.

Luetta Cole

October 11, 1915 - October 30, 2004