Ira Fox

Ira Jane Fox, 71, New Town, ND passed away Sunday, April 2, 2023 at Sanford Medical Center, Fargo, ND. Services will be held at 10:00 AM CDT on Saturday, April 8, 2023 at the Twin Buttes Wellness Center, Twin Buttes, ND with Jon “Poncho” Brady officiating. Burial will follow at Twin Buttes Congregational Cemetery.

Wake Services will begin at 5 PM CDT at the Twin Buttes Wellness Center.

Ira was born to Delbert (Bud) Wilson and Viola Benson at Elbowoods, ND on June 15, 1951.  She began school at Twin Buttes Elementary School in 1957 and attended High School in Lowville, NY and Halliday High School. Following high school she completed Administrative Assistant Training in Aberdeen, SD and began as an Administrative Assistant, where she worked at various companies before returning to Twin Buttes.

Upon returning home she worked at Northwestern Bell in Bismarck in the late 60s, and Twin Buttes School in the 70s. The 80s brought a change of careers from administrative work, as she began a career with Meyer’s Trucking in Dickinson as a truck driver. During her time driving truck, hauling asphalt for road construction projects, she was part of the Teamsters Union.

Ira married Angus Fox on April 18, 1981, and out of that union come daughter, Bethany, on November 20, 1981.

After driving truck, she began one of two extensive stints with the Bureau of Indian Affairs in 1983. By the late 90s, she was working in the Accounting Department of Four Bears Casino. She then was a clerk for the USDA in Valley City, and then transferred to Minot and held the same position, before moving back to New Town in the early 2000s.

She worked 12 years in the office of the Special Trustee during the beginning stages of the oil boom on Fort Berthold. She was extremely dedicated to her work there. In 2007, she would work until 9 or 10 at night without getting paid and no overtime just to make sure all the royalties got out to over 5,000 tribal royalty owners. When she retired in 2018, the office she worked in had processed over $3 billion in royalties. 

Ira always loved having a busy home, with lots of laughs and good times. Many of her children’s friends became Ira’s adopted children because “when she said you were hers, you were hers,” and they referred to her as Mom.  Pat Packineau, Jay Hale, Max Dickens, Shannon Hale, Twyla Baker, Sheridan St. Cyr, Autumn Jarski, and Basil Hunts Along, Jr. were just of few of her other children. She was everyone’s grandma for all the New Town Eagles Boys Basketball Teams from 2010 to 2015, always inviting them and feeding them at home. The Wollschlagger Boys, Hettich Boys, Jeremiah Wells and Wes Aubol were also considered her grandchildren. Once her children and their friends all had families of their own, the laughter continued with the joy of all her grandchildren.

She was also a big fan of Alan Jackson, and a diehard Kansas City Chief.

Ira is survived by her son, Scott (Jennifer), Bismarck, ND; daughter, Kerri, New Town, ND; daughter, Bethany (Enos), New Town, ND; sons, Monte (Pam) Phoenix, AZ; Mark, Dickinson ND; Bernie (Christine), New Town; daughter, Kimberly, Omaha, NE; Grandchildren, Amanda Wilson, Scott Wilson Jr., Mallory Wilson, Taylen Wilson, Tacen Wilson, Myles Young Wolf, Cruz (Kass) Young Wolf, Garrett (Ceara) Young Wolf, Jaelee Young Wolf, Kylee Young Wolf, Viola (Kailub) Lewis, Sophia Knight, Eva Knight, Clarky Knight, Warren Chase, Hope (Tyler) Baker, Alex Baker, Joe (Symbria) Baker, Michael (Lexi) Baker, Natalie (Janae) Fox, Natasha (Sean) Fox, Allison Flott, Natalie Flott-Harkey, Tanner Fox, Cody Fox, Joelle Fox, Wyatte Chapin, Cindra Fox, Devin Fox, Curtis Fox, Bronc Fox, MaeKaye Fox; Brother, Jim (Deb) Wilson, Grand Forks, ND; Delmar (Colleen) Wilson, Twin Buttes, ND; sister, Cheryl Elaine Simpson, New Town, ND;and  sister, Pamela “Pebbles” (Rob) Snider, Lincoln, ND. Ira was also blessed with 25 great-grandchildren.

Ira was preceded in death by her husband Angus, parents Delbert (Bud) and Viola (Benson) Wilson; Brothers Robert Wilson, Ben Benson; Sister Karen Wilson Aylor, Niece Kelli Driver and Grandson Jai Wilkie. 

Senior Pallbearer is Maynard Demaray.

Active Pallbearers are her nephews, Jason Todd Wilson, Bryan Selle, Nick Snider, Monroe Driver, Preston Snider, DeCee Simpson, Robert Wilson, R.J. Snider, Luke Simpson, Ben (Lexi) Benson and Ethan Benson.

Honorary Pallbearers are Gloria Fastdog, June Schettler, Kitty Wells, Austin Gillette, Kayla Danks, Marlys Jetty, Sharlene Baker, Adeline Brunsell, Beatrice and Gabe Fettig, Clarine DeGroot, Kathy Felix, Tom and Dorothy Wells, Darrick Bell, Viola Grant, Trista Marsette, Sherry Locken, Alvina Levings, Renita Howling Wolf, Reneta Mandan, Susan Hall, Noreen Two Crow, Danette Kappes, Vicki Alberts, Fahtima Hood, Jeremy Young Wolf, Elders Program, North Segment Staff, New Town Boys Basketball Teams from 2010-2015, South Segment Staff and Councilman Cory Spotted Bear, Nona Demaray and all her many friends and family.

Arrangements are being conducted by Barbot Funeral Home of Beulah and Hazen.

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