Carole B. Cottrell: March 16, 1955 - August 5, 2021

Carole Ann (Blackledge) Cottrell was born to Virgil and Helena (nee VanderWoude) Blackledge in Cadillac, MI on March 16, 1955 and was raised on the family farm just outside Marion, MI where she attended grade school through high school. She graduated from Marion High School in 1973 (1974?) and spent her freshman year at Michigan State University in East Lansing, MI. She hopped a ride in a sportscar and eventually arrived at Yellowstone Park where she was hired at Old Faithful Inn as Lobby attendant. There she met a smiling Butte lad named Ken Cottrell in one of the local unnamed hot springs nearby. Ken and Carole moved to Helena, MT where she worked as a cocktail waitress at the Overland Express then State Merit System, and married on a hill in Marysville, MT by George Harper on August 6, 1977... they enjoyed backpacking, cross-country skiing, camping, and later learning to sail their boat on Luck Peak Reservoir in Idaho, then the Columbia River and beyond.Ken's work took them to Boise, ID where she first worked underwriting in the insurance field, which led to then future work and houseboat homes in Sauvie Island, near Portland Oregon, then moving to Hayward, CA employed by Blue Shield of CA. Eventually Montana called and she took employment with Blue Shield, which recently merged with Blue Cross, followed with chief underwriter for New West Healthcare, as a respected professional where she made many friends and acquaintances. She finished her work history as Office Manager for Piccolos Music in Helena, MT.She and Ken raised and sold llamas on their acreage and divorced in 2002, but remained good friends. Until her death, Carole was living with her significant other, Larry Copenhaver for the following 19 years in the Scratchgravel Hills NW of Helena, MT., when she passed due to organ failure on August 5, 2021 at 4:45AM. She is survived by her love, Larry, Larry's son, David, daughter, Laura, her Rat Terrier, Fyse, a brother, Dan Blackledge back on the family farm in Marion, MI, and a sister, Peg in Vincennes, IN plus several nieces and nephews. Carole had many animal adoptees over the years and appreciated the sanctity of life. Her ceramic collection, again mostly of animal depictions, made for a colorful existence, and completed as much travel as she could over the years, Tropical cruises with Ken and trips to the Oregon tide pools and watching whales were the story of her life but the highlight was a 2-week tour of England, Wales, and Ireland in 20011. She will be missed by many and all who knew her.  A celebration of life will be held Friday, August 11, 2023 at noon at the Meadowlark Pavilion at Spring Meadow Lake.  Simple Cremation Montana assisted the family.