Our beloved family Matriarch, Lucille Agnes Kooper (Smokey) was called home
to be with our Lord at the age of 86, on June 8, 2018 at her home in Casper,
Wyoming. She was born in Bartley, Nebraska on April 10, 1932 to Henry
Mathias Tines and Mary Lucille (Pycha) Tines. After her mother’s death in
1939 Lucille spent her school years at the home of uncle and aunt Bernard
and Fern Pycha in Wallace, NE. She returned home to Bartley, NE and
graduated from high school in 1949. On September 25, 1951 she married
William Frank and to this union four children were born: Mary (Richard)
Brenner of Rapid City, SD; Debbie (Arlo) See of Casper, WY; Garry (Cindy)
Frank of Casper, WY; and Cindy (Brit) Barnett of Arvada, CO. After their
divorce she married Glen Kooper on January 28, 1974 and joined him on
his ranch south of Alliance, NE.
Prior to becoming a ranch wife Lucille resided in Cheyenne and Casper,
WY. Besides raising her children, she also worked at the Wyoming Game &
Fish. As someone who loved the outdoors including fishing and hunting she
enjoyed her customers, the game wardens and the perks of hints and locations
to fish and hunt.
Lucille had many interests throughout her life. First and foremost was her faith.
She spent her life as an active member of the Catholic Church. She also enjoyed
sewing, gardening, canning and creating delicious meals for her family. Lucille
and Glen loved to travel. They were able to do it a lot towards the end of Glen’s life.
One of Lucille’s favorite things to do was dance. No matter where or when she
would snatch any opportunity to start dancing to her beloved, “Original” country
music. She always started off with a Huge “Woo-Hoo!”
Lucille never met a stranger. She would talk to and carry on long conversations
with absolutely anyone at any time. She also had the extreme ability to create
family. As her family grew through the years it always stayed close even though
it was adding more and more to the “Kooper Kow Kamp.”
Glen passed away in 2007 and Lucille spent the rest of her life in Casper Wyoming
near family. Besides her children Lucille is survived by a niece Teri McCarville and
family, close friend and caretaker Virginia Rice, 10 grandchildren, 23 great grand-
children and 4 great, great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents,
her uncle and aunt Bernard and Fern Pycha, brother Harold Tines, sister-in-law
Iris Tines, loving husband Glen Kooper, grandson Arlee Jay Barnett II, two great
grandsons Brandon Brenner and Drew Naylor and one great, great granddaughter
Melody Baker.
A funeral mass will be at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 14, 2018 at Holy Rosary
Catholic Church in Alliance, NE. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery. The rosary
service will be at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 13, 2018 at the church. Visitation
will be on Wednesday, June 13, 2018 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the Bates Gould
Funeral Home. The family suggests memorials to Central Wyoming Hospice, 319
S. Wilson St., Casper, WY 82601; Veterans State Cemetery at Alliance Foundation,
P.O. Box 902, Alliance, NE 69301 or the donor’s choice.
Online condolences may be left at www.batesgould.com.