Cheri Cota, age 78, of Red Lake Falls, MN, our loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister and aunt passed away on Sunday, October 25, 2015 at the Frazee Care Center at Frazee, MN due to complications of ALS. Mass of Christian burial will be held on Friday, October 30, 2015 at 11:00 AM in St. Joseph Catholic Church in Red Lake Falls, MN with Father Bill DeCrans Officiating. Burial will be held at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery, Red Lake Falls, MN. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service on Friday at St. Joseph Catholic Church. Cheri Ann was born to Glenn and Olga (Rode) Leach in Thief River Falls, MN on February 3, 1937. She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran Faith. She grew up and attended rural school in Wylie, MN and graduated from Lafayette High School in Red Lake Falls in 1955. She was united in marriage to Edward Cota on October 13, 1956 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Red Lake Falls, MN. They have just celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary. The couple made their home in Red Lake Falls where they raised their family. She joined the Catholic Faith a few years after their marriage. Cheri Ann was employed from 1979 until 2003 in the Red Lake Falls School System in the food service area. She loved her interaction with all of the children. Prior to that Cheri spent several years providing home daycare. The most important part of her life was her family, she was devoted entirely to them. Wonderful memories were made of holidays, family gatherings and special times at the lake cabin at Lake of the Woods. She loved to make food in quantity for family gatherings and was teased by her family that "She wasn't cooking for the school system." Cheri is survived by her husband Edward of Red Lake Falls, MN, children Sandy (Alan) Stokke of Fargo, ND, Peggy (Rob) Nordstrom of Fergus Falls, MN, Nancy Cota of Red Lake Falls, MN and Tim Cota of Glenwood Springs, CO: grandchildren Nicholas, Christopher and Alyssa Stokke, Nikki (Craig) Stewart, Trish (Dustin) Puffe, Ryan Finkenbinder, Eli Nordstrom and great-grandchildren Dezi Puffe, and Alana Stewart. Brother Lawrence (Gloriann) Leach of Thief River Falls, MN, Sisters-in-law Agnes Sellin, Lorraine Cota and Alice Sirek, along with many nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents, sister Donna Leach, special Goddaughter Shelly Schindler and many extended family members.