Charles “Charlie” Cochran, 91, passed away peacefully in his sleep on March 30, 2022.
Charles was the first born to Joe and Selma (Walker) Cochran on October 18, 1930. His love of the outdoors fishing and hunting was fueled by growing up on the family ranch on Beaver Creek near Nelson MT. His grade school education was at the one room school on Beaver Creek. He, along with his younger brother David, would ride a saddle horse double to and from school. Once his sister Jo Anne started school, they graduated to a one horse buggy. Dad, being the oldest, was responsible for adding coal to the school furnace along with making sure that their “school bus” had food and water for the day.
While most of the work on the ranch was done horseback, Dad preferred the chores that involved the tools that had more horsepower. His first words as a baby were Vroom, Vroom…..so started his passion for anything that was mechanically driven.
Upon graduation from Helena High in 1949, he enlisted in the US Air Force, serving honorably for 2 years. He joined the MT National Guard in 1958 starting as a mechanic working on tanks. During his career, he worked thru the ranks to the position of CW4 – Chief Warrant Officer 4 – and was the first Safety Specialist of the MT National Guard.
On March 13, 1954, Charlie married the love of his life, Joyce McClellan. Early in their marriage they both enjoyed the many Saturday night stock car races with Dad being the mechanic and his best friend Dick Gross driving. Dad also had a love for restoring any car from “rusty to shiny” and always had a project going on.
When he retired from the MT National Guard in 1990, he and mom took multiple road trips to the West Coast to deep sea fish, dig clams, see the Golden Gate Bridge and drive up Highway 101. Dad was very active in Capital Carriages Car Club taking many of his classic cars on the tours and to the car shows all around the Northwest.
After Mom’s passing in 1999 he volunteered at the MT National Guard thrift shop. He enjoyed the company along with contributing to the stories told by all the retirees there.
Charles was preceded in death by his parents, Joe and Selma, wife Joyce, brother David, sister Jo Anne, niece Tracey and close friend Freda Estes. Charles is survived by his daughters, Linda (Dave) Bossell, Leslie (Terry) Olson, granddaughter Stephanie Bossell, great granddaughter Becca House (JR) and great grandson Brandon.
A special thank you to the Rocky Mountain Care Center staff, especially TJ and Barb, for all of your loving care of Pops.
The family request that in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Big Brothers-Big Sisters of Helena or the Lewis and Clark Humane Society.
A Viewing will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., Friday, April 8, 2022 at Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home, 3750 N Montana Ave., followed by a Funeral Service at 11:00 a.m. at the funeral home. A Reception will be held in the Social Hall of the funeral home after the service. Burial with Military Honors will be held at the Montana State Veterans Cemetery, Fort Harrison following the reception.
Service Schedule
Viewing
10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Friday April 8, 2022
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N Montana Ave.
Helena, Montana 59602
Funeral Service
11:00 a.m.
Friday April 8, 2022
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N Montana Ave.
Helena, Montana 59602
Reception
Following the service
Friday April 8, 2022
Social Hall of Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N Montana Ave.
Helena, Montana 59602
Burial with Military Honors
After the reception
Friday April 8, 2022
Montana State Veterans Cemetery
1900 Williams Ave.
Fort Harrison, Montana 59636
Service Schedule
Viewing
10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Friday April 8, 2022
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N Montana Ave.
Helena, Montana 59602
Funeral Service
11:00 a.m.
Friday April 8, 2022
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N Montana Ave.
Helena, Montana 59602
Reception
Following the service
Friday April 8, 2022
Social Hall of Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N Montana Ave.
Helena, Montana 59602
Burial with Military Honors
After the reception
Friday April 8, 2022
Montana State Veterans Cemetery
1900 Williams Ave.
Fort Harrison, Montana 59636
Keith & Mary Van Dyken says
So very sorry for the loss of your father. How very blessed he was to be loved and cared for so dearly by his family. Our loved ones slip away so gradually with age and illness, but the actuality that they are gone is still so painful. We send our love and prayers for God’s comfort and peace.
Wanda & Steve Arint says
Leslie,
Sorry for the passing of your dad. I remember him well from my time out at Fort Harrison. Please find comfort in knowing we care.
Wanda & Steve Arlint
John Cherie Dahl says
Charlie was a friend from our National Guard days. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family 🙏🇺🇸
Tom Lanning says
Charlie was a generous and kind family friend. Charlie assisted my sisters and I with our step-father/father’s (Dick Gross) estate. I was fortunate to spend time with Charlie many times during my early life camping at the National Guard campground at Canyon Ferry Lake, York campground, etc. One of the stock cars campaigned by Charlie and my step-father (Dick Gross) was stored in our garage; I was allowed to paint it and Charlie did not complain. Charlie, my Dad (Tom Lanning) and step-father (Dick Gross) spent their working careers together at the Montana National Guard. I only heard good things about Charlie and I know paise for Charlie’s superior character will continue.
Tom Lanning says
Dang spellcheck; I meant praise; i.e., I only heard good things about Charlie and I know praise for Charlie’s superior character will continue.
Allan V Stricker says
Charlie was an absolutely amazing guy.. Really too bad he retired before the rank of CW5 was instituted – he would have been a shoe-in. After retirement, all the he spent many hours at the Thrift Store trying to convince people they needed something, or needed a spare of what they had already purchased.
Charlie was an all-around wonderful guy and will be greatly missed.
Marilynn C. Baker says
Charles Cochran, the oldest of his Walker cousins, was special in so many ways. He was a Listener in a kind and gentle manner; however, he stood his ground with a firm yet open presence. Throughout his life, he pursued his passions with the support of his loving family. Charles’ goal was never to enhance his own reputation but rather to help and support his friends, family, and community. The path he walked will be a challenge for us all. Remembering Charles and how he lived his life will help us all live better lives.
Thank you, Charles, for the path you have created!
Rod Applegate says
Leslie and family. I’m sorry to hear of your Dad’s passing. Please know that your family is in my thoughts and prayers. Friendship is forever!
Joan Specking and Edwin Bender says
We are so sorry to hear of Charlie’s passing. We knew him as a long-time friendly neighbor. We had pleasant over-the-fence conversations and things won’t be the same knowing he is no longer here. Thoughts and prayers to his family and friends.
Christine Johnson says
Leslie and family, so sorry to hear of your dad’s passing. He was such a wonderful man and I always loved his smile and kind words. I will never forget the horse show days and him riding. I feel my life was more blessed having known him. Such a kind soft spoken man. Sending lots of prayers and love to you and the family. Heaven has gained a wonderful man. God speed to him.
Dean Retz says
So many memories of Chuck and I. We had our hunting camp in the Gates of the Mountains right below his, and so there was a lot of
“stories” going on. To this day – every time I go down Nelson Road to “Cochran Gulch”, I think of all the memories! When we moved to Helena
to Polson in 1945, we were very familiar with the Cochran place right down the road from where we stayed as a child at Nelson.
GOD BLESS
Sharlene Stav says
To all of Chuck’s beautiful family,
We are so sorry to hear of your Dad’s passing. He was by far one of the nicest people we’ve ever known. I have such fond memories of our years in 4-H, thinking how cool it was that your dad put your horses names on your trailer. He was always there to help us out and always with a smile. Please know that we’re thinking of you with love and prayers.
Hugs, Sharlene and Keith Stav
Raven Smith says
I remember the Cochran ranch as a child. My Uncle Wymond Duncan was married to Charlie’s mother Selma’s sister Mable. I was at the ranch down by the river as a child and I remember Joe’s mother who lived in a little cabin down from the road. To get to Joe and Selma’s house you would go by a spring house on the creek and if my memory serves me (I am 80 and was very young then) you crossed a foot bridge across the creek to their house. I remember a cream seperater inside the door. We lived at Nelson next to the Wise cabin in the summer when school was out. In the Spring Joe would come by our cabin with a team of horses and a buckboard wagon on his way to the Jim Ball basin with salt blocks for his cattle.. He would let us kids pile into the wagon and ride up as far as the old cabin we stayed in before my Dad and uncle built our new cabin at Nelson in 1949. I remember Grandma Cochran in a dress that went to the ground and a sun-bonnet like the pioneers wore. Ther were chickens running around the place and I have a picture with Grandma, My Dad George Duncan, mom Mae Duncan and some cousins on the porch of the cabin. I must have been about 4 years old and was clutching a big cat. Thes memories are very vivid of the Cochranes and I am so glad I was born in time to experience being at that wonderful place and knowing the Cochranes.
Dee Barfknecht says
Leslie & Linda,
Sincere sympathy in the loss of your wonderful Dad. So many great memories of our younger years….I’m thinking about you all.
Lynn Cochran says
Leslie, Linda and families,
We were sorry to hear about your Dad. I enjoyed visiting with Charlie at various car shows over the years. He was always friendly and well liked by everyone. Comments by others about life at Nelson and York reminded us of the stories my dad, Lou Cochran told about when he was a young boy. In 1942, he and his parents (Harold and Regina) bought a ranch near Clasoil and East Helena. He always had great memories of the family and friends that lived at Nelson and York.
Prayers and comfort to you all.