Bertha "Tiny" Dilbeck

Bertha Irene Dilbeck (aka Tiny Cowden) Dec 11, 1947, to Jan. 12th, 2025 

Tiny, beloved sister, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, passed at 77 years of age on Sunday, Jan 12th, 2025 surrounded by family at Denver General. She is preceded in death by her husband, mother, father and two brothers. She leaves behind three (3) children: Jacquie Perez (husband Sal, CA), Rhonda Bean (husband Harold, WY) and Ray Dilbeck (wife Jen, CO), and twelve (12) grandchildren  and eight (8) great grandchildren, eight (8) Cowden siblings: Jim, Bill, Doug, Bunny, Mike, Fred, Sandy and Twilla, their wives and husbands and a prolific family of nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews and even  great great nephews who loved her dearly. 

Tiny was born in Glenwood Springs and spent her early years up Lake Creek, in Edwards, Colorado. During her married years, she and husband, Ron, raised their children mostly in southern California with a few years spent in De Beque and Texas. After her husband Ron passed, she spent time being close to her children, grandchildren, siblings in Colorado, California, Glenrock and Cheyenne, Wyoming.  

If you knew Tiny, she was full of a loving spirit of grace who took care of everyone around her, always giving, always sacrificing her time and energy for others.  She was adventurous too, joining in the fun (yes, even at age 71, a zip line in Vegas; rolling a three-wheel ATV at Pismo Beach in her 30s; sledding and playing video games with the grands in her 60s.  Yes, you didn’t dare, Tiny, because no matter the age she was going to try to take you up on it. She could be fierce too when it came to standing up for family (whether it was her brothers, sisters, or her grandchildren) …you didn’t want to cross her that way. (smile). 

Her last five years were especially tough with the Lewy body disease that disabled her physically, making it difficult for her to communicate, but her light/love/kind spirit still were undeniable, making her ever more friends wherever she resided. Many tears are being shed in her passing; however, her legacy will remain in teaching us all how to love and take care of each other with every breath we take. We love you, Tiny! We miss you! 

God bless her children, family, friends and all her loved ones. 

Please join the family at a Celebration of Life, graveside at Cedar Hill Cemetery on Saturday, April 5th, at 12 p.m. in Gypsum followed by a potluck reception from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. at Eagle Best Western Lodge (conference room) 200 Lauren Ln, Eagle, CO 81631