Clifford "Joe" Fox, White Shield, died on September 5th, 2011. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, September 10th, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. at the Ralph Wells Jr. Memorial Complex in White Shield. Wake services will be held on Friday, September 9th, 2011 beginning at 5:00 p.m. at the complex. Burial will be at the UCC Congregational Cemetery in White Shield.

Clifford Joe Fox (Pony Boy) was born December 2, 1949 in Phoenix, AZ. He was the son of Rev. Robert and Naomi (Johnson) Fox. He attended White Shield School and graduated from High School in 1967. Following high school, he attended Boys' State. Clifford attended Lake Region College in Devils Lake for 1 year. From there, he moved on to Tempe, AZ where he attended The Cook School for Christian Leadership which is the educational branch of Cook Native American Ministries, an outreach and ministry organization. He then continued his education and earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in secondary education with minors in Psychology, History and Coaching from the University of Mary in Bismarck. He moved home and coached boys and girls basketball in White Shield along with teaching high school classes for a few years. Clifford then decided to advance his education and later moved to Vermillion, SD where he earned his Master's degree in Education/Administration. In his later years, he continued to work toward his Philosophy of Doctoral Degree in Education but due to his decline in health didn't get to finish.

Upon completing his education, Clifford moved to his home of Ft. Berthold and his community of White Shield and was the Principal at the School in White Shield. He was a devoted family man, and loved his career and loved helping others. He was a lay minister for the local U.C.C. Church in White Shield where his father was a previous prominent figure in the church. He was a grant writer for local, state, and federal programs in the education arena. Clifford was community chairman the years he lived in White Shield and loved his community. He was very influential to all his former student-athletes. He stressed education and respect. Clifford moved on to work for other communities and tribes such as, Four Winds Schools where he was the Superintendent, United Tribes Technical College(instructor, coach), Twin Buttes Elementary School (Superintendent), Ponca Tribe of Nebraska (Tribal Planner, Grant Writer), Belcourt High School and New Town School (Elementary/Jr High Principal), Sitting Bull College (instructor), Ft. Berthold Community College (instructor), Bismarck-Mandan Public Schools (substitute teacher), and CEO, State Tribal Director of Native American Tribes of the State of Massachusetts

Clifford was a natural, gifted athlete in high school basketball and football. His athletic talents also included baseball and softball, both fast pitch and slow pitch. When he lived in Arizona while attending school, he was selected to the Double AA Farm Squad for the Oakland Athletics, but chose to earn his education and provide for his young family of then three. He was also a saddle bronc rider and had a caring for horses in his younger years. Clifford had a love for music and learned to play the guitar and piano with precision. Clifford was a champion Fancy dancer and an avid competitor in all sports including horseshoes, ping pong, and billiards and loved to hunt and fish. He was also a member of the Arikara Dead Grass Society. Clifford was in the education field for 37 years and will be never forgotten for being an influential Indian educator.

Clifford married his love of his life Holly Beth Dickens in White Shield on December 30, 1970. From this union five children was born. They began their life together in White Shield and were married for 19 years.

Clifford is survived by one son, Bobby, Mandan ND; four daughters, Jeanette Fox, Jody Archambault, both of Mandan ND, Trudy Hall-Fox, Emma Fox, both of Alexandria MN; 17 grandchildren, Ruby, Beth , and Jimmy Jr. Mote, Mandan; Hunter, Chenoa, Scout, and Aspen Schoenrock, Alexandria MN; Kenneth, Autumn, and Gage Hall, Alexandria MN; Colton Hauglane and McKenna Hemstrand, Alexandria, MN; Shotaya, Chastin, Nevaeh and Meadow Fox, Bismarck ND, Shawnee Fox, New Town ND; two godchildren, Willa Incognito and Stephen Finley both of Twin Buttes ND, extended family in Nebraska, South Dakota, which includes other nieces, nephews, brothers, and sisters.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Our father, grandfather, brother, uncle and best friend will be missed dearly. But the love and respect he showed us all will continue in our everyday lives, and will inspire us to go on like he would want us all to.