William E. "Bill" Cox Sr., 97, formerly of Underwood, ND died January 10, 2018 in Trinity Nursing Home, Minot, ND. Cremation has taken place and a memorial service will be held 10:30 AM Saturday January 20, 2018 at Faith Evangelical Church, Underwood with Pastor Jeff Higbie officiating. Inurnment will be held in the spring in the Underwood Cemetery.

William E. Cox "Bill" passed away on January 10, 2018 at 11:00 PM at Trinity Nursing Home in Minot. Bill was born July 18, 1920 in Big Wells, Texas to James Thomas and Doulie Mae Cox.  He attended school and graduated in Big Wells.  He enlisted in the Army/Air Force in 1942.  He was an MP and stationed in the Underwood area where he met the love of his life Florence Fern "Flossie" Schell.  They were married in Altus. Ok. on October 11, 1944 where he had been stationed after N.D.  They lived in Texas for a short time after his discharge and then moved back to Underwood where they made their home.  Flossie passed away in 1984.  He was reunited with a high school sweetheart at a school reunion in 1987 and he and Lucille Shirley Clark were married in 1988.  They made their home in El Monte, CA. until she passed away in 1990. Bill returned to Underwood and made his home there until 2014 when he entered assisted living in Minot.  Throughout his life he worked construction jobs like the Garrison Dam Project and finished his career working at Great Plains Supply Lumber Yard in Underwood for 29 years until his retirement.

Bill was an EMT and taught EMT classes with the Underwood Ambulance Service for many years. He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Underwood until it closed and several Veterans organizations.

He is survived by his daughters; Connie Sasser, Casper, WY. and Doulie Pfaff (Donnie), Douglas, WY.; his sons Randy Cox (Kathi), Douglas, WY. and Todd Cox, Minot, ND.;  10 grandchildren, Troy Schell, Ty Schell, and Thad Schell, Kory Pfaff, Craig Pfaff and Sarah Russell, Eric Cox, Christopher Cox, Cody Cox, and A.J. Cox; 22 great grandchildren, Miranda Schell, Tasha Schell, Shane Schell, Jake Schell, Shay Esquibel, Sab Esquibel, Rebecca Papinau, Ashley Pfaff, Ryan Russell, Rebecca Deen, Maddyson Pfaff,  Mhegun Pfaff, Hazen Cox, Tristan Cox, Titan Cox, Emery Cox, Quentin Cox, Adara Cox, Kason Cox, Oliver Cox, Jessica Cox, Whitney Cox; and his three great-great grandchildren, Adleyn Papinau, Lyric Esquibel and Artisan Esquibel; and his brother, Wiley N. Cox of Texas.

He was preceded in death by both of his wives, his son William E. "Billy" Cox Jr., his parents, 5 sisters and 5 brothers.