IROQUOIS — William J. “Ernie” Fox, 66, of Iroquois, passed away Wednesday, January 17, 2024, at Avera De Smet Memorial Hospital in De Smet.

His funeral service will be held 10 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 25, at Faith Alive Methodist Church, with burial at Bancroft Cemetery in Bancroft.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 24, at Welter Funeral Home. Family will be present from 5 to 7 p.m., with a time of sharing to begin at 6 p.m.

William John Fox was born on June 10, 1957, in Huron to parents Darwin and Clara Mae (Korkow) Fox. Bill grew up on the family farm in Bancroft where he attended grade school. Bill attended middle school in Yale and high school in Iroquois, where he graduated. Bill excelled in sports in his youth and was selected to play football at Huron University for a brief time.
Bill earned the nickname “Ernie” from a young age due to his familiar looks to the boy on “My Three Sons”. He lived in Bancroft on the family farm his entire life. He started farming at the young age of 8 and has never stopped. He also worked at Huron Ready Mix pouring concrete with friend Kenny Scotter.

Bill married Babbi Decker on Dec. 11, 1979, in Huron. On their family farm north of Iroquois, they raised a son, Brett Fox of Bancroft and a daughter, Billi Jo Fox of Huron.

Ernie enjoyed many things. Socializing with friends, riding motorcycle, boating and fishing, fixing up his shop, and transplanting trees with his new “toy” excavator. Most of all, Bill loved spending time with his granddaughters, Jozie Severance, Sydnee Paye-Severance and Zemi Severance, all of Huron. He was a member of Iroquois Methodist Church and a past member of Kiwanis Club.

He was also survived by his parents, Darwin and Clara Mae Fox of De Smet; his siblings, Daniel Fox of De Smet, Darla Kuiper of Sioux Falls; and several sister and brother in-laws; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, John and Molly Fox; maternal grandparents, William and Ruth Korkow; mother-in-law, Jane (Wipf) Decker; brother-in-law, Doug Decker; and nephew, Brady Erickson.

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