Antonio "Tony" Cote

Antonio P. “Tony” Cote, age 82 of Sauk Centre, formerly of St. Cloud, died Thursday, November 16, 2023 at the Galeon Community Home in Osakis, Minnesota.

A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, November 24 at the Patton-Schad in Sauk Centre. Interment will be in the St. Paul’s Cemetery in Sauk Centre.

Visitation will be 1 hour prior to the service at the funeral home.

Antonio Phillip Cote was born May 3, 1941 in Bottineau, North Dakota to Romeo and Mary Ann (Masse) Cote. On December 26, 1960 he married Carol Anne Felt in Westope, North Dakota. The couple resided in Williston, North Dakota before moving to Sebeka, Minnesota. In 1978 they moved to Brainerd and since 1987 they had resided in St. Cloud for most of the next 30 years. Tony was a true “jack of all trades” initially working as a farm hand and then spent most of his working years as a production or plant manager in soft drink manufacturing. upon retiring from the soft drink industry, he returned to utilizing his extensive handyman skills as maintenance manager of the apartment buildings that he and Carol resided in. While himself a high school educated, hard-working, common man, he and his wife, Carol, were especially proud of the respective accomplishments of their 4 children. Tony loved all of his grandsons and was not shy about his special love for his first grandchild, and only granddaughter, Stephanie.

Although Tony was known by everyone to possess a very quiet, reserved demeanor, he spoke loudly through his actions. In fact, anyone who knows him will be able to recount to a time, if not many times, where Tony eagerly offered his time and talent to provide a helping hand for any problem or project, big or small. He spoke softly and fixed problems.

Survivors include his three children (and spouses), Debbie (Tom) Anderson of Sauk Centre, Richard (Melissa) Cote of Spokane, Washington, and Doran Cote of Roseville; eight grandchildren, Stephanie (Michael), Benjamin, Aaron (Morgan), Daniel, Tabor, Hayden, Coby, and Riley; one great-granddaughter, Evelyn; brothers, Larry, Greg, and Mike; sisters, Helen, Rita, and Cheri; and many loving relatives and friends.

Tony was preceded in death by his wife, Carol Cote on February 28, 2007; youngest son, Dean Cote; parents; brothers and sister, Andy, Edward, and Gertrude.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.