Mary L. Fox

Mary L. Fox, 81, of Dell Rapids, passed away on Tuesday, July 8, 2025 at the Dougherty Hospice House in Sioux Falls. Her Memorial Mass will begin at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 12, 2025 at St. Mary Catholic Church, Dell Rapids. Inurnment will be in the St. Mary Cemetery. Visitation will be on Friday, July 11, 2025 from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. at St. Mary Catholic Church with the Christian Wake Service beginning at 7:00 p.m. followed by a rosary.

Mary Louisa Foren was born on July 13, 1943 in Sisseton, SD, the daughter of Joseph and Viola (Smith) Foren. She grew up and attended school in Browns Valley. She graduated from Browns Valley High School in 1961. After high school she attended Stewarts School of Cosmetology. While Mary was working as a beautician in Watertown, she met Jerald Fox. The couple married on February 17, 1968 at St. Anthony’s in Browns Valley. The couple moved to Long Beach, CA while Jerald was serving in the US Navy. After Jerald’s discharge, the couple moved to Toronto, SD where Mary was a beautician. In 1974, Jerald started working for the quarry in Dell Rapids and the family moved to Baltic for a couple of years where Mary started doing daycare. The family moved to Dell Rapids in 1977. Mary ran an in-home daycare until 1994. She then worked at St. Mary School, where she worked in the kitchen and later the church office. She also worked at the Dell Rapids Library where she retired after 15 years.

Mary was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church and Altar Society, Catholic Order of Foresters, St. Mary Booster Club, Dell Rapids American Legion Auxiliary, Boy and Girl Scouts, Catholic Daughters of the Americas, the Dell Rapids Senior Citizen Center, the USS Frank E. Evans Association and helping at the Trent River Camp.

She loved visiting and spending time with her family, her grandchildren and friends. She enjoyed playing cards, quilting, reading, traveling, bowling, bingo, volunteering with many church and community organizations and enjoyed always being surrounded by children and watching them participate in numerous activities.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents Joseph Foren, Viola Foren, Mother and Father in law Edward G Fox, Lillian Fox brother in law Edward J Fox, David Fox and Kennth Fox, daughter-in-law Missy Fox.

She is survived by her husband, Jerald of Dell Rapids; her children: Jeffrey (Malissa) Fox of Thief River Falls, MN; Monica Fox of Dell Rapids; Kristi Fox of Omaha, NE; and Jason (Heather) Fox of Crooks; her grandchildren: Jordan Carr, Lillian Marquis, Misica Fox, Jaizen Hagemeyer and Wesly Fox; her 5 great-grandchildren; her siblings and in laws: Edith Foren, Joseph (Shirley) Foren, Joann (Herschel) Niles, Donni (Paul) Schaunaman, MaryAnn (Jim) Plavec, and Robert (Sandra Jo) Fox. 

Memorials may be directed to St. Mary School.

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