Ronald John Cook Jr. June 2, 1984 - August 15, 2021
Obituaries-Mobridge / Posted Aug 24, 2021 | 11:59 AM / 238 views
Ronald Cook Jr., Šungwakan Ob Mani (He Walks With Horses) age 37, of Eagle Butte, passed away Sunday, August 15, 2021, at Cheyenne River Health Center, Eagle Butte.
Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. MDT, Wednesday, August 25, 2021, at St. John’s Episcopal Church, Eagle Butte, with burial at St. James Episcopal Cemetery, Bear Creek. There will be a wake at 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, August 24, 2021 at the church, with a procession at 4:00 p.m. from the 4-mile.
Junior was born on June 2, 1984 to Rosetta Cook and Ronald Cook Sr. He was the youngest of five siblings. He spent his younger days growing up in Bear Creek and Lantry, SD. He spent a lot of time out to Grandma Mary’s house with all the other cousins running the countryside. During his teenage and adult years, he lived in Eagle Butte attending school and graduating from Cheyenne Eagle Butte in 2001.
At this time, he became best friends with Shannon Anderson, Chauncey Red Elk, Kenny Spotted Bear, and CL Red Fox. As years went by, he remained very close with Chauncey, Kenny and CL, he called them his brothers. When Ronnie (they called him Ronnie), Chauncey and Kenny got together you know there was gonna be a wild funny story to be heard when they returned. Their Auntie Mom Janice says, you know those three are up to no good when they got together, and you could hear them laughing a mile away.
At the age of 16, his mother Rosetta, made her journey and his heart was broken. It was shortly after this Ronald began to make his way into the world on his own.
Junior had a special bond with his sister Edie and his brother Kay. He always shared memories of how his sister helped him from when he was young to present with school, finding jobs, everything and anything he needed help with. They teased each other, got mad at each other, but he always looked for her no matter what and told her he loved and trusted her because she always stood up for him and was there for him. He grew up with his brother Kay. They did some wild things, and they would just laugh and laugh about it. They told stories of the crazy things they did. Junior loved his sister and brother, and he was broken hearted when his brother Kay made his journey. He missed him a lot. He had often helped Kay with whatever he needed help with.
Junior always said, “Cause I’m a cowboy,” no matter the situation he was in.
Junior was a happy person always joking around, laughing, telling stories, he had some wild ones that made you laugh, he loved to tell stories of him and his uncle Romey’s days out on the ranch. He told everyone who was his friend or family, I love you and give you a hug. He was a very helpful person, often times offering his help to whom ever needed help. He liked to visit anyone and everyone who would listen and visit with him.
Ronnie went to live with his favorite Auntie/Mom Janice and Uncle Bob Mandan and favorite Auntie/Mom Johanna High Bear, for a short period of time when he was 17. He was welcomed into their homes, and they loved him as their own, always giving him a place to call home. Janice always looked out for him, she says he’s one of my kids, he’s my boy and I’ll always love him. No matter what went on Ronnie always called their houses home, and checked in with them to fill them in on his life.
Junior moved to McLaughlin for a few years. He met a lot of relatives there, and he was welcomed by many family members and friends. He became close with Jesse Porra, Bo Eagle Pipe and Chuck Eagle Pipe. His Auntie Paulette Steele and Uncle Bradley Clown always looked out for him there and helped him when they could.
Junior later moved back to Eagle Butte, making his way the best he could. He would say, “I’m roughing it but I’m a cowboy.”
Ron was what he was called by his favorite Auntie Joyce, Uncle Romey and family. They took him into their family and loved him as their own. He loved them dearly and always had a story about Uncle Romey, working down on the ranch, around the house, and he always said Ol’ Uncle Romey is like a father to me. He loved to help them no matter what they needed help with. Dawson’s kids loved him and called him Uncle RonRon. They always made sure he was doing good. He loved spending time with them and when Uncle Romey made his journey he was heartbroken, he was lost, and he didn’t know what to do.
Ron also loved Uncle Chuck Holloway. He enjoyed spending time with him and going down to his ranch to work with him.
Junior was loved by his Auntie Arlys Bagola, and he would often go visit her. He liked to go visit his Auntie Renee at her work. Sometimes he would find his cousin Robin, and they would visit about politics and whatever else came up.
Junior enjoyed his time with his homies as he called them. Most of them had nicknames and he was sure to tell why each one had a nickname. If you spent time visiting with Junior and his homies, you were sure to hear a story about something. All his homies knew he and his sister Edie, had a special bond and that he always looked for her. He called her Sissy so most of them called her sissy and never by her name.
Juner as Jestin called him, they had an especially close bond. Junior would say you’re my favorite cowboy and they were gonna be cowboys together. They were always happy to see each other and often Jestin would help find Juner. Junior would say he’s my favorite cause he sticks up for me all the time.
Junior loved to work as a ranch hand, and some of the local ranchers he worked for are his late uncle Romey Gunville; uncle, Chuck Holloway; Paul Lawrence; auntie; Rita and Jerry Farlee; Lizette and Alvino Roybal; and Mark and Connie Knight.
He loved his job at Ron Brown Otter Buffalo Ranch. He also worked at Scull Construction, Arpan House Moving, Rock Creek Livestock, and Mozers in McLaughlin.
Ronald Cook Jr. is survived by his sisters: Edie Cook-Twite (Erik Twite), Justin, Juell and Jestin Twite, Ronette Cook-Condon (Shaun Condon), Enaysa Cook, and Chyler Condon; father, Ronnie Cook, Sr.; nieces, Kaystis and Kayden Cook; grandson, Miko Yazzi; very special auntie/mom’s: Janice Mandan, Johanna High Bear and Joyce Gunville; and uncle, Bob Mandan.
He was preceded in death by his mom, Rosetta Cook; brother, Kay Cook; sister, Darann Dog Eagle; maternal grandparents, Joyce Traversie and Chuck Dog Eagle; paternal grandparents, Mary Summers-Cook and John Cook; uncle, Romey Gunville; stillborn son, Quese Cook; uncle, Dusty Dog Eagle; and many other relatives.
Luce Funeral Home of Gettysburg has been entrusted with Ron’s arrangements.