Francis J. Cox

Francis Jacob Cox, 85 of Ellendale, ND was born April 28, 1928 to Charles and Emma Lena (Watson) Cox in Mason City, IA. He was raised on the farm and attended school in Mason City. Fran also worked with his father in the family well drilling business. After his fathers death in 1945 Fran ran the family business until he entered the United States Navy in 1946. Fran served on the US Kersage and the US Midway as ship fitter doing damage control and attended firefighters school in Philadelphia, PA. On a peace keeping tour around the world, Fran enjoyed shore leave in England, Italy, Greece, Spain, Sweden, Iceland and Cuba. After Fran was honorably discharged in 1948 he returned to Mason City where he worked in a meat packing plant and sugar beet plant. In 1950 Fran married Jerry Cuypers. Fran moved to Coeur d’Alene, ID where he worked at Bunker Hill gold mine and a gas pipeline company. After being laid off from his work, Fran went to work in a bakery. Later, he moved to Jamestown, ND where he worked as manager at Cox’s Bakery (no relation to Fran) for five years. In 1962 Fran began work as head baker at Jamestown State Hospital and in 1967 he purchased the bakery in Ellendale known as Fran’s Bakery. On May 21, 1968 Fran married Carol Walks in Mayville, ND. Together they ran the Bakery & Coffee Shop and Pizza Shop, expanding the restaurant in 1978. They returned to just the bakery in 1988. Fran retired from the bakery in 2006 and resided in Ellendale until his death May 28, 2013 at his home. Fran enjoyed hunting, fishing and camping with family. Survivors include his wife: Carol Cox, Ellendale, ND; two sons: Terry (Joan) Farthing, Spokane, WA, Randy Farthing, Ellendale, ND; two daughters: Gigi (Vern) Heltemes Moorhead, MN; Kathy (Joel) Bechtold, West Fargo, ND; one daughter-in-law: Julie Farthing, Midlothian, TX; 10 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; two sisters: Donna Pierce, Mason City, IA, Carole (Eugene) Bacon, Fort Collins, CO. He was preceded in death by his parents, three daughters: Cathy Sue Cox, Christie Berheim; Connie Shaw; two sons Randy Cox and Ronald Farthing; five sisters: June Faught, Goldie Bartusek, Patricia Flatness, Zona Jenkins, Ruth Clemens; four brothers: Eddy, Jackie, Glen and William. The funeral service is 11am Saturday, June 1 at Presbyterian United Methodist Church, Ellendale with Pastors Paul Henschen and Carl Hedman officiating. Burial is at St. Helena’s Catholic Cemetery, Ellendale with Military Honors by North Dakota Military Honors and American Legion Herman-Schlinker Post #137. Arrangements by Hoven Funeral Chapel, Ellendale.