Rosalie Esklund Cooke Grip

Rosalie Esklund Cooke Grip, 85, passed away on June 25, 2026. She is a beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, and friend. She was born April 20, 1941, in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Florence Martin and Dewey Grant Esklund. She married David Hunter Cooke Jr. on February 3, 1961, later solemnized in the Salt Lake LDS temple. Together they had three sons, Bill, Jeff, and Grant. After Dave’s death in 1976, she married Nicolaas Johannes Grip on April 25, 1983. Rosalie worked for the phone company for 35 years in various roles. While there, she pursued higher education, which helped her advance in her career. She was an active member of the CWA and loved helping her fellow workers. After her retirement, she could not sit still, so she began a career at Salt Lake County, where she worked for fourteen years. 

No matter where Rosalie went, she was bound to meet someone she knew. It was uncanny. She never met a stranger. She loved to travel, camp, and have new experiences and adventures. Maple Grove and Scipio, Utah, were places full of cherished memories. Her laugh was infectious, and she was always up for a good time. Family was everything to her. She was our matriarch and our greatest advocate. There was no greater comfort than to hear her voice over the phone and to be greeted by a warm hug. She radiated charity. There was no judgment in her, and she had a heart full of forgiveness and patience.

Grandma’s house of 47 years on Hollyhock was the place everyone called home. She loved to host Christmas parties, backyard get-togethers, and a lot of visits. She found every excuse possible to spoil her grandkids. She even loved having a basement full of high school teenagers. The back door was always open. Her grandkids loved her fridge full of drinks. Rosalie loved her home and took great pride in it. She loved all her friends in the neighborhood. Her prized possessions were her collection of bells from around the world and scarves she was given by Elvis Presley at one of his concerts. She never fell out of love with Elvis. His music brought her great comfort over the last couple of months.

One of Rosalie’s greatest joys was the opportunity to work as a volunteer at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake. She loved playing her part in the world coming together.

Rosalie strived to be a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She loved her Savior Jesus Christ and had a firm testimony of eternal families. We look forward to our reunion with her.

She is survived by her sons, Bill, Jeff (Colleen), and Grant (Susie), step-children Cathy (Paul), George (Julie), 12 grandchildren, and 24 great-grandchildren. Preceded in death by her husbands, parents, siblings, and daughter-in-law Donna Cooke.

The family would like to thank the staff at Valencia at Draper for the wonderful care they gave Rosalie over the last three years. Special thanks to Serenity Hospice for their kindness and the dignity and respect they showed to her in her final days.

A visitation will be held on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Dimple Dell building of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 949 East 10600 South, Sandy, Utah.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 9, 2026, at the same location. Friends and family are invited to attend a visitation beginning at 9:00 a.m., prior to the funeral service.