Rhonda L. Cotton

Rhonda Lou Cotton, 73, of Sioux City, Iowa passed away peacefully on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, at a hospital in Sioux Falls, surrounded by her family, following a long and courageous battle with multiple sclerosis (MS). Services will be held Monday, May 4, 2026, at Waterbury Funeral Service of Sioux City (4125 Orleans Ave., Sioux City, IA), with visitation at 10:00 a.m. and the funeral service at 11:00 a.m. A luncheon will follow at the funeral home, and burial will take place at 2:30 p.m. at Memorial Park Cemetery.

Rhonda was born on May 22, 1952, in Bangor, Maine. She was the only daughter of LeRoy and Evelyn “Nita” (Blackford) Weigel. She attended Riverside High School in Sioux City, Iowa. On August 29, 1969, Rhonda married the love of her life Ronald “Ron” Cotton. Together they were blessed with three children: Ryan, Renee, and Rachel. Rhonda and Ron lived in McCook Lake, South Dakota for 15 years before moving to Richland, South Dakota where they resided for 6 years. In 1990, Rhonda returned to school as a non-traditional student at the University of South Dakota for two years, pursuing her goal of teaching high school algebra.

At the young age of 40, Rhonda was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS). As the last of the kids graduated, Ron’s work with General Motors relocated the couple to Burkburnett, Texas and then later to Austintown, Ohio. In 2015, upon Ron’s retirement, the Cottons happily moved back to Sioux City to be close to family. Rhonda continued to enjoy a full life with Ron doing many of the things she loved for as long as she was physically able, including golfing, bowling, fishing, and gardening. Despite her diagnosis, she remained an amazing cribbage player and especially loved playing poker and surrounding herself with family during their summer fishing trips.

Left to honor her memory are her husband of 56 years, Ronald “Ron” Cotton, her son, Ryan Cotton, her two daughters, Renee (Jason Surber) Geesaman and Rachel (Luke) Branyan, her two brothers, Danny (Rumi) Weigel and Lynn (Linda Perrell) Weigel, her seven grandchildren: Sadie, Ashley, Sam, Seth, Sarah, Zak and Anna, and her four great-grandchildren: Makinley, Skyler, Justin and Lilian.

Rhonda will be welcomed home by her parents, LeRoy and Evelyn, and her granddaughter, Zoey.