Carol Cooper

Funeral services for Carol Jean Cooper of Albert Lea, MN, will be held at 11:00 AM Friday, May 11, 2018 at the Bridge Community Church North in Albert Lea, MN. Pastor Clayton Balsley will officiate. Visitation will be held Thursday evening from 5 until 7 PM at the Bonnerup Funeral Service and one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be in Lakewood Cemetery. Carol died Friday, May 4, 2018 at the Thorne Crest Retirement Center in Albert Lea. She was 88 years of age. Carol was born December 30, 1929 in Luverne, MN, the daughter of Herman and Edna (Welzenbach) Thorson. She was a graduate of Luverne High School on June 5, 1947. After a short time in nursing school she was united in marriage to Roy Cooper on June 25th 1949 in Mankato, MN. In her early married years Carol spent time raising her family and took on the role of bookkeeper for the family business, Cooper Plumbing and Heating. When her children grew older, through the encouragement of her mother, she began taking college classes. In 1970 she graduated from Mankato State University with a degree in business education. She taught in the New Richland School district for over 22 years. She was a very active member of the First Baptist Church in Albert Lea for 40 years teaching Sunday school, singing in choir, church circle, missions and many other roles. Carol enjoyed traveling and would drive great distances to visit family and friends. The best times were spent with her children and grandchildren and friends. Carol is survived by her children Nancy (James) Cope of Albert Lea, MN, Lori Cooper of Albert Lea, MN, Mark Cooper of Albert Lea, MN, grandchildren Kaitlin Cope and Geoffrey Cope both of Brooklyn Park, MN, one brother Steven (Mary Jane) Thorson of Ft Collins, CO, and sister in law Sharon Thorson of Rapid City, SD. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Roy, brother James Thorson and sister Joyce (Arnie) Gabrielson.