Sheryl J Cowan

Sheryl June Cowan, 71, Bismarck, passed away Saturday, July 23, 2016 at CHI St. Alexius Health due to natural causes. A memorial service will be held Thursday, July 28, at 11:00am at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Parkway, Rev. Darrell Aleson officiating. Sheryl was born November 10, 1944, in Jamestown, ND to Ralph and Alice (Seibold) Slaaten. She was raised in and graduated from Williston High School in 1962. After High School, Sheryl attended Minot State College and graduated in 1968 with a Bachelors degree in teaching. It was during her time at Minot State that she met and fell in love at first sight with Richard Cowan. Sheryl eventually married Rick on August 10, 1968. They moved to and taught in the Montana public school system before eventually returning to North Dakota to begin their family. Sheryl was an active mother to her two sons by participating and volunteering in their school and extracurricular activities. Sheryl returned to work with the North Dakota State Legislature, Interstate Business College, and the Family Medical Center. Her greatest enjoyment came to her when in the late 80s; she owned and operated the small boutique, Bojangles, in the Gateway Mall. Bojangles provided Sheryl with great joy as it combined her love of fashion and shopping. Sheryl retired in the early 2000s and enjoyed spending time with friends, traveling, and visiting her grandchildren. Sheryl will be forever loved and remembered. Those surviving are her husband, Rick, Bismarck; her sons, Greg (Heather), St. Michael, MN, Michael (Rachel), Cinncinatti, OH; her four grandchildren, Brita, Paige, Andrew, and Kyler; her sister, Nancy (Brian) Malchert and family, Fergus Falls, MN; and her aunts, Dr. Doris Slaaten, Minot, ND, and June Hansen, Carrington, ND. Sheryl was preceded in death by her parents, Ralph and Alice.