Lyle Fox

Lyle Fox, 85, a resident of Fergus Falls, died Monday, June 4, 2012 at Lake Region Healthcare in Fergus Falls, Minnesota. He was born December 21, 1926, in Forbes, North Dakota. He was reared by his parents, Christopher and Olive (Derry) Fox. Lyle grew up in the depression era and had many different jobs. One was in a baling crew, poking wire in an old time baler. He also stamped wool, packing wool fleece in huge burlap bags for shipping. Another job was unloading coal from box cars into storage bins. He graduated from Forbes High School as valedictorian in May of 1944. After one quarter of college at Ellendale Normal and Industrial College, he enlisted in the US Navy on December 19th and spent his 18th birthday on a troop train. After Boot Camp at Great Lakes, Illinois, he attended Yeoman school and transferred to Newport, RI, to form up the detail for the new carrier, Franklin D. Roosevelt, CNB 42. He was a plankholder, being on board when the ship was commissioned. On the shakedown cruise to Rio de Janeiro, he became a shellback- having crossed the equator. He was discharged August 5, 1946. He attended college with the GI Bill and graduated from Ellendale Normal in 1950. He started teaching and coaching at Leal, ND. Here he met Stella Eissinger, the love of his life, and they were married April 5, 1953. In 1955, they moved to Felton, MN where Lyle was principal. The next move was to Pelican Rapids. After two years there, Lyle was awarded a year’s scholarship at the University of MN, by the National Science Foundation and the family moved to Minneapolis. In 1960, Fergus Falls passed a bond issue to start a Junior College. Lyle was hired to organize and teach in the Math Dept. During his tenure, the State of Minnesota took over all the Community Colleges. Lyle helped write the constitution of MN CCFA (Community College Faculty Association) and organized the “Math Contest” for high schools. In the early days of television, a group of math teachers, including Lyle, designed and made a video tape math course to be used in the colleges. He retired from teaching in 1985. Lyle was an ardent fisherman. His favorite fishing was for walleye. He especially liked fall fishing from the shore and fishing at Orwell Dam. He built a cabin on Otter Tail Lake in 1960. Lyle was a member of Federated Church, The American Legion, VFW and the Elks. He is survived by his wife, Stella, of Fergus Falls, two sons, Terry (Diane) in Oakdale, and Tom (Kay) in Rochester, three grandchildren, Amanda (Chris) Lacek, Vanessa and Chris Fox, and one great grandson, Landon Lacek. He is also survived by his sister Nadine Harkins and family. He was preceded in death by his parents. Memorials may be directed to the Federated Church or the donor’s choice. Visitation: One hour prior to the service at the church Service: 11 a.m. Friday, June 8, 2012 at Federated Church, Fergus Falls Clergy: Reverend Doug Dent Interment: Knollwood Memorial Gardens, Fergus Falls Military Participation: Fergus Falls V. F. W. Post 612 and American Legion Post 30 Funeral Home: Olson Funeral Home, Fergus Falls