Sylvia Louise Ackerman Cook

Sylvia Louise Ackerman was born on November 19, 1939 in the Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital in Hollister, California. She was the sixth of seven children born to Sylvia Marinda Christensen and Archibald Charles Ackerman. Sylvia died in the early evening of December 18, 2024 in the Logan Regional Hospital of multiple organ failure. She was 85. She was preceded in death by her five brothers and one grandson.

At the time of Sylvia’s birth, her family lived in Tres Pinos, California. When she was five, her father purchased “The Ranch” in Hollister, California. Their home was on a small twenty-acre farm with a four-acre apricot orchard. Sylvia loved animals and had many dogs and cats. She attended Fairview Grammar School and Hollister High School where she played the clarinet in the marching band and was an expert seamstress earning the award of “Cotton Queen.” She graduated from high school in 1957 and worked as a dental assistant. 

On March 17, 1958 Sylvia was married to Kenneth Leon Cook from Ririe, Idaho in the Los Angeles Temple. Early in their marriage, they lived in Ririe, Idaho; Salt Lake City, Utah; and Rigby, Idaho. During that time, their first two daughters were born. Later, the family moved to Salinas, California, where a son and another daughter joined their family.

In 1971, the family relocated again to North Logan, Utah where Ken became the 11th person to be employed by the Utah State University Space Science Lab, now known as the U.S.U. Space Dynamics Lab. They bought a new home and enjoyed raising their children in rural North Logan. Sylvia worked in the Utah State University Bookstore. She helped take care of her own mother for many years. She loved having her grandchildren over and they loved spending time with her.

During the 1970’s, she and her husband Ken were part of a square dancing group called “Lace ‘n’ Levis.” They also enjoyed many outings together, driving their antique cars with the Cache Valley chapter of the Vintage Motor Car Club of America which she and Ken founded. 

Sylvia was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. She held many callings and enjoyed working in the temple. She had a beautiful voice and loved to sing; she adored musicals and played the soundtracks repeatedly. She was an avid gardener, growing many beautiful flowers and keeping her yard in immaculate condition. Sylvia loved camping and hiking, especially in Sequoia National Park. She was a good housekeeper and her rolls were legendary. She also enjoyed reading, genealogy, and sewing. She canned hundreds of bottles of fruit and vegetables. For years she baked all of her family’s bread. She collected bells and bears throughout her life and received many as gifts. She loved her weeny dogs, watching hummingbirds, and drinking Diet Coke. 

In February 2024 Sylvia became a resident of the Autumn Care nursing home facility in Hyde Park. Her husband Kenneth visited her there nearly every day, bringing their beloved dog Milo along. The family would like to thank the staff at Autumn Care for the excellent and loving care that was given to Sylvia during the last year of her life. 

Sylvia is survived by her husband, Kenneth Leon Cook; her children, daughters Brenda Lynn Beck, Laura Janean Paskett (Keith), son Kenneth Allan Cook, and daughter Linda Louise Griffin (Kevin); and her only sister, Kay Ackerman Harmon. She has eleven grandchildren and seventeen great grandchildren. 

Sylvia had a terrific sense of humor that often made us laugh. We will miss her every day. She is an important part of who her children and grandchildren grew to be.