Ann Fox

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday March 1, 2016 at 2:00 PM at the United Methodist Church in Broken Bow with Pastor Todd Karges and Pastor Tyce Jensen officiating. Burial will be in the Broken Bow Cemetery. Govier Bros. Mortuary of Broken Bow is in charge of the arrangements. Visitation will be held on Monday February 29, 2016, 8 AM to 8 PM at Govier Brothers Mortuary in Broken Bow with the family greeting friends 6 PM to 7 PM at Govier Bros. Mortuary. Anna Marie (Ann) Carstensen Fox was born January 31, 1939 at Broken Bow, Nebraska, the only child of Otto and Catherine (Stutzman) Carstensen. Ann graduated from Broken Bow High School in 1957. As an only child, cousins were a large part of Ann’s life, and they remained close for the rest of her life. Experiences with them are some of her fondest childhood memories. On June 23, 1957, she was united in marriage to Richard B. Fox in Tacoma, Washington, where they both worked for Boeing. They returned to Broken Bow in 1962, where they owned the Dairy Queen until they purchased the family farm in 1965 near Berwyn. Ann worked alongside Richard helping with all of the farming and cattle chores. She always wished for brothers and sisters growing up, and in her union with Richard, six children were born. Card playing was the major social event for Ann, Rich and family. It was food, kids, games and fun for all with most evenings ending late at night with parents carrying sleeping (or pretend sleeping) children to their vehicles to drive home. She enjoyed horses and helped form and lead the first all girl horse 4-H club (the Funky Fillies) in Custer County. After a tornado hit the family home in 1974, Ann and Rich rented a place a few miles west of the farm. The kids started attending Broken Bow Schools and Ann then drove a school bus for several years. Later Ann and Rich purchased the City Café where Ann enjoyed cooking and visiting with patrons. After selling the café Ann partnered with Eileen McCaslin at A & E Catering. Of all the things Ann did during her life, the most cherished was having her family around. All holidays were spent with extended family. Rarely did a week go by without a shared meal between Ann and her cousin Anna Bendowsky’s families. Ann and Rich enjoyed the rare occurrence of having all of their children live within a sixty-mile radius. This allowed Ann and Rich the opportunity to follow their grandkids’ activities, keeping them busy several nights a week. If they weren’t at the kids’ ball games they were at one of their kids’ homes playing pitch, pinochle, bridge, hands and feet, etc. She was completely devoted to her family. For many years she and Rich have hosted Sunday lunches for the family, and whatever kids and grandkids could come would stop by. Sometimes they would eat and run and sometimes lunch turned into dinner and the kids would stay to play games, watch sports or take a nap. This tradition is still going! Baseball and softball were her favorite sports. Many memories were made playing in the Women’s Softball League in Broken Bow. She loved to travel, and would go on a moment’s notice. Ann was a great travel companion and went along with her kids as they traveled to Washington D.C., Disney World, Kansas City, Colorado and many more. One summer she spent a month traveling Alaska with her Aunt, Louise Stutzman, and cousin, Anna Bendowsky. To the end she had a ready smile, and was kind to those around her. Ann was preceded in death by her son, Richard Brian Fox and her parents, and step-father, Kenny Myers. Surviving Ann are her husband Richard of Broken Bow; children, Terrill Spencer (Gary Koyen) of Broken Bow, Penny (Gordy) Goodman of Burwell, Stuart (Cindy) Fox of Broken Bow, Barry (Jenny) Fox of Broken Bow, and Jaimee (Joel) Bailey of Ansley; grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Tashina and James Golden, Alexi, Quinn, Beau, Samantha, and Gabe; Nikkia Spencer, Brecken and Easton; Corporal Trey Spencer, USMC, Mitch and Jacy Spencer; Spencer and Cassidy Goodman; Kate, Emily, and Brian Fox; Carsten, Austin, and Hadyn Fox; and Alyssa, Tycen, Luke, Kierra, and Kyler Bailey. Along with many beloved cousins. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Custer County Foundation. Govier Brothers Mortuary is in charge of the arrangements.