Helen Cox

Helen Cox, 76, passed away peacefully in her sleep Wednesday, September 4, 2024 at Golden Acres Manor nursing home in Carrington, ND after a prolonged illness.

Helen Gladys Devereaux was born October 28, 1947 at Tappen Hospital in Tappen, ND. She was the third and youngest child born to William “Bill” and Ida (Fanderick) Devereaux. Helen would spend her childhood growing up on the family farm located a few miles southwest of Streeter, ND. Here she would find the true passion in her life; an affinity and compassion for animals. As a young girl, she could be found raising her many pet cats and dogs- even raising baby foxes for a time- as well as attending to the other animals on the farm. There would never be a time in her life that she could be found without an animal companion of some sort. 

Helen would attend grade school in Streeter ND before attending High School in Tappen ND, graduating from Tappen High School in 1965. After graduation, Helen would split her time between working odd jobs in Streeter and helping out on the family farm until her father’s passing in 1967. Helen would then move to Minneapolis to take work as a switch board operator for the Northwestern Bell Telephone company. However, living in a large city didn’t appeal to her so she would move back to Jamestown a year or so later. Helen would then begin working as a cashier at the old White Drug pharmacy in Jamestown and then working as a nurse at Jamestown Hospital. 

It was during this time she would meet and began dating Arthur Krein. Art and Helen were married on February 13, 1970. The marriage would produce two children, a daughter, Dionne and a son, Shannen. Helen would also begin working at the then new Western Gear (now Collins) Aerospace factory in 1970. Unfortunately, the couple would divorce in 1982.

Helen would marry Michael E. Cox in December,1995. Together, they would open MC Repair in Jamestown. However, they would later divorce in 2003. 

Unfortunately, Helen would be laid-off from Goodrich Aerospace in 2004 due to production cuts, ending 34 years of service. Helen would then go back to nursing, returning to work at the old Jamestown Hospital while also going back to school to obtain her Certified Nursing Certificate. After Jamestown Hospital was closed due to the opening of the then new JRMC, Helen would begin working at the North Dakota State Hospital, where she would work until retiring in 2017.

Helen was known as a very kind and generous person- sometimes to her own detriment. But she could always be counted on to help out the best she could, never asking for anything in return. And although in the last year of her life she faced many health issues, she faced them bravely. She will be deeply missed by her family and all who called her a friend.

Helen is preceded in death by her parents, William and Ida, brother Roy and sister-in-law Shirley Devereaux, sister Sally Dewald, niece Joleen Dewald and beloved niece Sandy Dewald. 

She is survived by her daughter Dionne (Evan) Larson and grandson Benjamin, St. Cloud MN, her son Shannen Krein, Jamestown ND, nephew Craig Dewald, Streeter ND and nieces Judy (Virgil) Horst, Mandan, ND, Tracie Devereaux, Butte MT and Sherri Stover, Whitehall MT. Helen will also be greatly missed by her lifelong friend Jenny Kidd, Jamestown ND.

As per Helen’s final request, in lieu of flowers she has requested that a charitable donation be made to any, preferably local, animal charities.