Lori Jo Cooper Natchke died Sunday, December 22, 2013 at the University Of Colorado Hospital in Aurora, Colorado. Lori was born December 6, 1969 at St. Joseph Hospital in Mitchell, South Dakota. She attended school in both Whitewood and Sturgis and graduated in 1989 from Brown High School in Sturgis, South Dakota. She moved to Denver, Colorado to work in 1989, where she was employed in the accounting field.

Lori met her best friend and soul mate, Neil, while they were attending first grade and Neil would pull her pigtails. They were married on June 20, 1998 at the Community Hall in Whitewood, South Dakota and made their home in Denver, Colorado.

Lori was an extremely accomplished quilter. She made individualized quilts for infants, newlyweds, friends and family members. To get one of her quilts was a special treat indeed! She loved attending dirt stock car races and Neil and Lori spent many summer weekends running from track to track across several states.

She had a special fondness for Estes Park, Colorado. She spent fall weekends searching for elk and moose. She had no fear and was thrilled to find herself within a few feet of bull elk on several occasions. In keeping with her love of nature, she kept her yard full of roses and decorated their home with birds, particularly hummingbirds.

With no children of her own, Lori spoiled her many nieces and nephews. In addition to giving them gifts, she gave of herself in time. She was their best friend and confidant. Family was very important to Lori. With genealogy as a hobby, many trips were made to search out past relatives. One of her favorites was finding that the Knoxville race track had a "butt load of information" about her uncle Jim Matthews. Lori also indulged in collecting Snoopy items, and dedicated an entire bedroom as the "Snoopy" room.

Lori is survived by her husband of 15 years, Neil Natchke; her parents, Kenneth and Sharon Cooper, Sturgis, SD; her sister, Shawn Hufstutler, Rapid City, SD; her brother, Ken Cooper, Sturgis, SD; paternal grandparents, John and Louise Cooper, Whitewood, SD; and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, Donald and Edith Hanten.

Memorial Services will be held at 10AM Friday, January 3, 2014, in the Kinkade Funeral Chapel with Pastor Skip Smith presiding.