Obituary of Harriet Cokens Huber

Harriet Cokens Huber, age 85, of Freeman, SD passed away Sunday, February 22, 2015 at the Oakview Terrace Nursing Home, Freeman, SD. Funeral services will be 11:00 AM, Saturday, March 7, 2015 at the Missionary Church, Freeman, SD with Stephen Rousso officiating. Burial will be in the Tripp Cemetery, Tripp, SD at approximately 1:45 PM Saturday afternoon. Visitations will be 5 to 8 PM, Friday evening at the Missionary Church, Freeman, SD. The Aisenbrey-Opsahl-Kostel Memorial Chapel, Menno, SD is assisting with the service details. Pallbearers are: Scott Neuberger, Joe Cokens, Daniel Benjamin, Josh Cokens, Jason Mehlhaff, Anthony Cokens, Brian Mehlhaff and Charles Pekas. Honorary pallbearers are the rest of her grandkids and great grandkids and the band, "Go Figure". Harriet Jean Waste was born on November 19, 1929 to Ruth Ruedy and Harry Waste in Burlington, Iowa. She joined two older sisters, Patricia and Doris Jane. Harriet graduated from Burlington High School and Burlington Jr. College. She worked most of her life in the newspaper business with her husband, George Cokens, Sr., owning and operating the Tripp Ledger and starting The Area Wide Shopper, now known as the Area Wide Connection. After George died in 1981, she moved to Freeman and cooked at The Cornerstone for many years. She was a great cook and baker and loved to cook for her families gatherings. She made cut out sugar cookies for every imaginable holiday, frosted and decorated. We always looked forward to them and they disappeared fast. After the Cornerstone, she started babysitting and watched many kids in the Freeman area and quickly became known as Grandma Coco. She loved to play cards and was a Girl Scout Leader for many years. She loved music and singing and watching movies, especially musicals and she would always sing along. She belonged to the Yankton Area Sweet Adeline's for several years. She loved listening to Elvis and her favorite band, Go Figure; they even had pictures of her on their website dancing with cane in hand. We captured her on video in her final days singing and we will treasure that forever. I'm sure all of you remember mom most for her love of cats. She owned many over the years and treated them like royalty. We always teased her that she treated them better than she did us and then we would all laugh. She had quite a collection of stuffed cats and figurines. Anything we saw that had a cat on it we had to buy for Grandma Coco. She loved her kids and grandkids and we all loved her and she will be greatly missed. She moved into the Freeman Nursing Home on November 1, 2010 where she resided until her death. She is survived by her daughters, Tamara [Robbie] Mutchelknaus, Connie [Jason] Luke, of Freeman, SD, Ruth [Wayne] Newcomb of Ruidoso, NM; sons: George [Monica] Cokens of Menno, SD, Harry Cokens and Robyn of Norfolk, NE and son-in-law, Tracy Hampson, of Hillsboro, ND; grandchildren: Scott Neuberger & Jenny, Tina Neuberger, Brandie [Dev] Malmlov, Miranda [Jason] Stach, Daniel [Tammy] Benjamin, Deana Benjamin & Ethan, Kristina [Troy] Williams, Lindsay [Alan] Tuschen, Kristi [Mike] Burke, Joe Cokens, Kayla [Jason] Barnable, Josh Cokens and Casey Anthony Cokens, Melanie & Justin, Becky & Barney, Christy & Jonathon, Jason [Justice] Mehlhaff, Brian [Tracey] Mehlhaff, Tiffany Mehlhaff & Brandon, Lynette Kaufman & Jay, Jennifer Pekas & Joe, Amber Pekas and Charles Pekas; great grandchildren: Jessen & Jenny, Samantha, Darian, Shelby, Madeline, Raegan, Daniel, Ian, Sydney, Ashlyn, Tyce, Teagan, Trelyn, Riley, Silas, Emma, Hadleigh, Kenzie, Lincoln, Klaire, Jevin, Braxton, Draydon, Jacob, Damian, Isaac, Darrica, Jayda, Ethan, Eli, Asher, Alexis, Avery, Anthony; nephew, Gary [Barb] McVey and a few other relatives. She was preceded in death by her parents, her sisters, a daughter, Stephanie Hampson and a granddaughter, Kasey Jo Mutchelknaus.