Joseph Benjamin Cook

Joseph Benjamin "Benny" Cook, age 97 passed away April 18, 2016 in Salt Lake City, Utah. He was born to Walter Benjamin Cook and Lillian Pearl Luck on July 6, 1918. He graduated from East High and the University of Utah. On December 30, 1939 he married Mary Louis Patton. They resided in Los Angeles pursuing a music career. During WWII, Joe served as a Navy research chemist in Washington, DC . Together they raised six children. Joe was a successful entrepreneur building and selling businesses in Logan and Salt Lake City. Joe received many national and civic awards for his work. His favorite times were spent with his children, playing his trumpet and listening to jazz at the family cabin on the Provo River. Throughout his life, Joe was passionate about playing the trumpet and jazz, traveling to LA and NYC to take lessons from the greats. He was a member of several bands and symphonies. On October 3, 1997, he married Darlene Cheney who lovingly and patiently cared for him during the autumn of his life. His children are grateful for her dedication and tender care. Joe was preceded in death by his parents, his sister, Joyce Gwendolyn (Jack Harry) Bridwell, and brothers Waldo, Alden Bliss and Calvin Clemens Cook. Joe is survived by his wife, Darlene and her children, Vicky Berthold, Jim Cheney and John Cheney as well as Joe’s children, Marica Dee Hutchings (John) Linford (Fort Collins, CO), Catherine Jo Cook (NYC), Joseph Patton (Nancy) Cook (SLC, UT), James Harvey (Cam) Cook (Pasadena, CA), Kelly Webster Cook (Beaverton, OR) and David Montgomery (Nora) Cook (Bountiful, UT); 17 grandchildren, 13 great-grand children and many step-grandchildren. A viewing will be held on Saturday, April 23rd from 10:30-11:30 am and a funeral service will be held at noon at the Capitol Hill Ward located at 417 North West Capitol Street, Salt Lake City. Internment will be at Elysian Gardens. The family may be contacted at utahcookfamily@gmail.com. Online guestbook available at www.russonmortuary.com