Meta Irene (Kerner) Cox, age 97, passed away on March 13, 2020 at the Lake Andes Nursing home in Lake Andes, SD. Meta was born September 24, 1922, the second of 12 children born to Fred and Anna (Williweit) Kerner. She grew up on a farm south of Gregory, SD and attended Gregory High School graduating in 1940. Following high school, she attended college in Springfield, SD for teaching. She then taught country school for one year in Paxton, SD. Then along with her sister Lillian and friend Rosie Miller, she moved to San Francisco, CA to work on airplanes during World War II.
It was there that she met her future husband Russell Cox, a soldier stationed in San Francisco, CA during World War II.
On January 1, 1947, Meta married Russell Cox in San Francisco, CA and made their home there. Meta went to work as a secretary while Russell continued his military career in the U.S. Army.
In 1959, Meta and Russell relocated to Albuquerque, NM to the Sandia military base where Russell retired after 20 years of military service. Following Russell's retirement, Meta and Russell purchased and managed an apartment building in Albuquerque, NM for about 7 years.
Meta and Russell enjoyed dancing and regularly attended dances at the local VFW. They also spent time traveling, including trips to Europe and Mexico. They also regularly would travel back to SD to visit family and old friends.
Meta enjoyed studying, learning and speaking Spanish. She also was an accomplished seamstress sewing almost her entire own wardrobe. She also enjoyed spending time learning to play the piano and experimenting with home wine making.
She was an avid reader and enjoyed reading the newspaper daily as well as keeping up to date with the markets and current affairs.
Meta's husband, Russell passed away on October 4, 1996. Later, Meta enjoyed the company of special friend and faithful companion, Lt. Colonel Lawrence (Larry) Daleiden until his death in 2008.
In 2017, Meta relocated back to South Dakota to the Lake Andes Nursing home in Lake Andes, SD.
Meta is preceded in death by her husband, Russell Cox, special friend Larry Daleiden and siblings, George Kerner, Nedra Bickle, Dowain Kerner, Alvin Kerner, Lillian Morris, Fred Kerner, Jr. and Vivian Bahm. She is survived by her sister Delores Muslik of Gregory, SD and her brothers, L.H. Kerner of Gregory, SD and Richard Kerner and LaMone Kerner, both of Burke, SD and numerous nieces and nephews.