Edward Cota, 90, of Red Lake Falls, MN, passed away on Thursday, May 11, 2023, at Villa St Vincent, Crookston, MN.
Mass of Christian burial for Ed will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, May 19, 2023, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Red Lake Falls, MN with Father Bob Schreiner Officiating. Burial will be held at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery near Red Lake Falls, MN.
Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church.
Edward Joseph Cota was born January 28, 1933, in Crookston, MN son of Napoleon and Imelda (Huot) Cota. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Dorothy Catholic Church in Dorothy, MN. He was raised in a rural school near Crookston and attended high school at Lafayette High School graduating in 1951.
Ed entered the US Army on February 17, 1954, and served his country until his honorable discharge on February 16, 1956. He returned to Red Lake Falls and worked at Thibert Chevrolet as an auto mechanic.
On October 13, 1956, he was united in marriage to Cheri Ann Leach at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Red Lake Falls, MN. To this union, 4 children were born Sandra, Peggy, Nancy, and Tim. The couple made their home in Red Lake Falls and Ed went to work at the US Post Office as a rural mail carrier starting in 1963 and retiring in 1998.
Ed was active at Oak Knolls Golf Course, was a member and served as commander of the American Legion, and served on the volunteer ambulance service. Ed spent many years at Arneson’s Rocky Point on Lake Of The Woods, he enjoyed golfing, fishing, hunting, and woodworking, and was a jack of all trades. He restored a 1951 Chevrolet fleet liner with Craig and Linus Schmitz.
Ed is survived by his children; Sandy (Alan) Stokke of Fargo, ND, Peggy (Rob) Nordstrom of Fergus Falls, MN, Nancy Cota of Red Lake Falls, MN and Tim Cota of Silt, CO: grandchildren Nicholas (Teresa), Christopher (Mariah) and Alyssa (Danny) Stausch, Nikki (Craig) Stewart, Trish (Dustin) Puffe, Ryan Finkenbinder, Eli Nordstrom and great-grandchildren Dezi Puffe, and Alana Stewart, Hailey Stokke, Harper Stokke, Emmerson Stokke and Parker Stokke. Brother-in-law Lawrence Leach of Thief River Falls, MN, along with many nieces and nephews.
Ed is preceded in death by his wife Cheri Ann, parents Napoleon and Imelda; siblings Lyzium, Medi, Henry, Leo and Adelore Cota; sisters Celia Guzek, Mabel Mercil, Sr. Imelda Cota, Leda Weiland, Viola Fitzsimmons, Sr. Raphael Cota, Alice Sirek, special Goddaughter Shelly Schindler along with several nieces and nephews.
Condolences may be sent at www.johnsonfuneralservice.com
