BARRY D. COX

Barry D. Cox, 64 of rural Warwick, ND died on Saturday afternoon, August 13, 2011 at the Heartland Care Center in the loving care and presence of his family. Funeral Services for Barry will be held on Wednesday, August 17, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. at St. Olaf Lutheran Church, Devils Lake. Rev. Jeff Nicla will officiate and burial will be in the Devils Lake Cemetery. Visitation will be held at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Tuesday from 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. with a Time of Remembrance at 7:00 p.m. Visitation on Wednesday will be at the church one hour prior to the funeral service. Memorials may be directed to the St. Olaf Building Fund or the Comfort and Care Suite at the Heartland Care Center. Serving as Casket Bearers for Barry will be Gerald Buchli, Dale Fisk, Gary Vick, Erling Karlsbraaten, Mike (Felix) Mertens, William Wood, Dennis Berg, and Dick Johnson. Honorary pallbearers will be all family, friends, board members, Rural Firemen, and others who have felt the impact of him on their lives. Music will be provided by Susan Eback, soloist and Lynda Pearson, organist. Barry David Cox was born on November 2, 1946 at Devils Lake, ND, the son of Orrin and Margaret R. (Stevenson) Cox. He grew up in the Crary area and attended Crary Public School, graduating with the class of 1964. Barry was united in marriage to Judy Wood on September 18, 1965 at St. Olaf Lutheran Church, Devils Lake. They moved to Bothell, Washington and Barry worked in manufacturing and construction and here is where David and Wendy were born. In 1973, the family moved back to North Dakota to the Wood family farm at rural Warwick, ND and Patrick and Michael were born. Barry and the family farmed and raised cattle and made their life here through the years. Barry was very active in many Lake Region organizations and community activities. He was a member of the Devils Lake Rural Fire Department for over 36 years, receiving a 35 year service award in 2009. He also served on the Rural Fire Department Board of Directors for many years. Barry served on the Lake Region Ambulance Board for many years, the Lake Region Law Enforcement Board and was a Benson County Commissioner for several years, serving as President and also serving as President of the County Commissioners Association and the North Dakota Association of County Officers. He was a member of the Fort Totten Trail Riders, serving as President and was a Lohnes Township Officer for many years too. While serving Barry was very instrumental in many of the advances in the Lake Region including the construction of the rural Fire Department buildings in Devils Lake and Crary, the new Lake Region Ambulance Facilities and the Law Enforcement Center. Barry was proud of the Lake Region and was always proud and honored to serve and be a part of the progress of the community. Barry was Mr. Outdoorsman and Sportsman. He loved to hunt and fish and always looked forward to each hunting season as a great chance to be with family, old friends and the opportunity to make new friends. He was very talented at darts and was a State Champion Dart Player several times. In more recent years Barry had a become an avid gun collector. Barry had a heart as big as Texas and was always ready and willing to lend a helping hand to friends, neighbors and even strangers. He loved the land entrusted to him, he was very concerned about the ever rising Devils Lake and worked hard to find a solution to the dilemma and this was all because of the love he had for his wife, children and grandchildren and the legacy he wanted to leave for them. He was a loving and devoted husband and father and we will keep his memory alive in our hearts forever. Barry is survived by his wife of 45 years, Judy; daughter Wendy (Jeff) Dammen of Devils Lake; sons Patrick (Michelle) Cox of Crary, ND and Michael (Sheila) Cox also of Devils Lake; grandchildren Austin and Jacob Dammen; brother Orrin R. Cox and his wife Carol of Kent, Washington; three aunts, one uncle and several nieces, nephews and their families also survive. Barry was preceded in death by his parents; son David Orrin Cox in 1977 and his father-in-law and mother-in-law Burton Wood and Esther Wood-Langley.