PIERRE, SD – Kenneth Cox, 84, of Pierre died on Tuesday, January 9, 2024 at The Village of Harmony Hill in Watertown after a courageous battle with cancer. A visitation will be held from 5-7pm on Wednesday, January 17, 2024 at Isburg Funeral Chapel with a Prayer Service and Rosary starting at 7pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11am on Thursday, January 18, 2024 at Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Pierre with burial at Calvary Cemetery in Pierre.

Ken was born in Tyndall, SD to Clifford and Beatrice (Pravecek) Cox on March 30, 1939. He attended school in Tyndall until his 8th grade graduation. The family then moved to Yankton, where Ken graduated in 1957. He then went on to further his education at the University of South Dakota in Vermillion, graduating in 1961 with a degree in Applied Science.

While attending high school and college, Ken worked at a local grocery store in Yankton, taking great pride in mastering every department of the store and finally settling in the meat department as a dept. Manager.

While attending USD Ken met his true love, Katie, who was attending Mount Marty College. They were united in marriage on August 25,1960 and were blessed with 4 children.

Ken landed a job in Pierre at the SD Dept. of Transportation, where he remained for 38 years, retiring in 1999. He spent many evenings sitting in the living room with a TV tray in front of him working on calculations & designs for a new bridge or road and was proud to let us know as we traveled in South Dakota which roads & bridges he had helped design. The guys from the DOT would still get together for coffee every week, which Ken attended until he could no longer, due to his illness.

Ken was always busy, whether he was working on a project, fixing something, working outside on his immaculate yard & gardens, framing Katie’s needlework, doing “paperwork”, hunting in his younger years or his favorite pastime – fishing. He loved being out on his boat enjoying the river/Lake Oahe and maybe catching a fish or two! His boat was the hardest thing he had to give up as his cancer advanced.

Ken received his cancer diagnosis with grace and lived every day fully, never complaining or feeling sorry for himself. He had great faith and a wonderful smile that was contagious. In the last 3 weeks of his life, he brought many a smile and laugh from the staff at The Village and Hospice nurses who cared for him. He always had a quick, funny comeback for them and a “Thank You” for all they did for him. They joked that they would all take him home in a heartbeat!!

Ken is survived by his children Coleen (Todd) Whitlock of Wakefield, KS, Mike Cox of Reno, NV and Lisa (Daryl) Schofield of Castlewood, SD. Ken also leaves behind 7 grandchildren: Holle Phouisagnieme, Melanie Whitlock, Kevin Whitlock, Taylor Schofield, Kaitlyn Schofield, Sierra Schofield, and Jackson Schofield and 3 great-grandchildren.

Ken was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Katie and daughter Michelle.

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