Kathleen Cooper

Kathleen “Katie” Cooper

We are deeply saddened to share the loss of Kathleen McCannel (Osborn) Cooper. Katie was the first born to Lawton (Buzz) and Marjorie Osborn on January 6th,1953, in Dickinson, North Dakota.

From an early age, Katie had a vibrant and outgoing personality. She was popular in school and participated in cheerleading for the Dickinson High Midgets. Friendships were easy to make, and her circle only grew throughout her life.

Katie grew up in town, but her love for horses and riding pulled her heart towards the ranch life. When she was in high school, she was hired to do housework during the summer for a ranch north of Killdeer, ND. It wasn’t long before Darcy and Donna Harris had a ranch hand instead of a household helper, and Katie loved it there.

Katie graduated from Dickinson High School in 1971 and attended NDSU, majoring in Animal Science. She was on the College Rodeo Team and was Miss Rodeo North Dakota in 1974, competing for the National title held in Oklahoma City, OK. Katie took up the hobby of tooling leather belts and made many to support her rodeo habit throughout college and for many years after.

She was recruited to the North Dakota State School of Science (NDSSS) in Whapeton, ND, and graduated as a Dental Hygienist in 1975.

She started her career in North Dakota working in Bismarck and Watford City. During this time, Katie was rodeoing on the North Dakota Rodeo Association (NDRA) circuit and met and married Josh Hedrick. Katie and Josh then moved to a ranch near Absarokee, MT, where their daughter, Daniell Kathleen Hedrick (Hammill), was born. They were divorced soon after.

Katie returned to working as a dental hygienist in Columbus, MT, and eventually moved to Billings, MT. While living in Columbus and actively participating in team roping, she was enticed into the world of horse racing by one of her roping friends. She embraced this passionwholeheartedly and bought, bred, and raced horses around Montana for many years.

During this time, Katie met her husband, Dick Cooper. They married in 1990, and she and Dani moved to his ranch on Blue Creek, south of Billings. This was her ideal life - living on the ranch, raising cattle with Dick, and breeding and racing horses. She always had a dog and many cats.

Katie enjoyed a wide variety of hobbies including riding, trap shooting, packing into the mountains, going elk hunting, and traveling with Dick and their friends. However, her true passion was horse racing – whether it was her own race horses or following the National races. Her house was always where her friends would gather to watch all the big races. Her brother loved to call her right before the Preakness, Belmont Stakes, or Kentucky Derby races began just to torture her.

Katie and Dick hosted many neighborhood events and large brandings every year where everyone was welcome. They had friends and relatives from across and out of the country who attended. Many of them came because Katie had met them somewhere, and they were intrigued with ranch life, so she would invite them. She never did know a stranger. She had an amazing ability to tell stories and make people laugh.

Katie continued working as a dental hygienist in Billings until 2015 when health issues prevented it. She didn’t enjoy the best health in recent years and was admitted to the hospital for the last time before fading into a forever, peaceful sleep on June 27, 2025.

Her good friend Barb Lupo (née Church) helped honor the memory of Katie by gathering a collection of tributes from those who have known her since her school days.

“Katie never met a stranger”

“She could tell hysterical stories for hours. We’d have our cheeks sore for hours.”

“Classmates recently said she was the most beautiful girl in our class with her dark hair and

blue Irish eyes”.

“Katie ALWAYS knew someone, every place she went”.

“She didn’t believe in social status, but treated everyone with respect”.

“She could tease. Never a dull moment”.

This from Karin Larsen:

“Amen. We knew each other since we were babies. Katie taught me how to ride horseback and “barrel race”. On our way back to Dickinson from school in Fargo she grilled me on farm equipment. Said I was a city girl. We were proud of the fact that we weighed 100 lbs and woresize 8 shoes in 4th grade, why I don’t know. She was ”Tex” and I was “Rex”. I could talk to her about anything. She was a lifelong friend.”

And...

“I have saved phone recordings of Katie “singing” Happy Birthday”. Bless her tone deaf heart. I made her practice singing “Twinkle twinkle little star” but it was to no avail. This always gave us a good laugh”.

“I loved her. It is like an icon gone”

Her Irish blue eyes and infectious laugh will be deeply missed. Katie is survived by her husband; Dick Cooper, daughter; Dani (Rob) Hammill, stepchildren, Julie (Mike) Limberhand, Justin (Deb) Cooper, Jamie Hickey (Jim Bob), grandchildren; Brooklyn Hammill, Macy Limberhand and Cooper Hickey, sister; Ann (Chip) Fischer as well as many nieces, nephews, and extended family.

She was pre-deceased by her parents; Lawton E. (Shirley) Osborn and Marjorie (Carl) Hermanson, her brother; James Osborn and grandson; Brayden Hammill.

A Memorial Service will be held at 1:00pm on Monday, July 7, 2025 at Dahl Funeral Chapel.

In honor of Katie's memory, please consider donating to the Chase Hawks Memorial and Yellowstone Valley Animal Shelter.

Flowers can be sent through Gainan’s Floral