Arletta Jean (Lanier) Cox, 98

Arletta Jean (Lanier) Cox, 98, passed away peacefully on Oct. 4, 2026. She was born in Franklin, Ohio on April 5, 1928, to Alonzo Arlington Lanier and Etta Marie Newberry Lanier. She was the youngest of 12 children.

She married Samuel Wilburn Cox on Dec. 22, 1945. They farmed for 21 years in Ohio while raising six children. They moved to Montana in 1966 where she resided near Columbia Falls until her death.

Arletta is preceded in death by her parents; husband; her sons Michael Cox and Kenneth Cox; and her great granddaughter Brylee Beck. As well as all 11 of her older siblings.

She is survived by her children: Samuel W. Cox, Jr. of Helena, Walter L. Cox, of Helena, Deborah A. Beck, of Columbia Falls, and Alice L. Meyer, of Swan Lake; 14 grandchildren; and 22 great-grandchildren.

A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. on Oct. 17 at Columbia Mortuary in Columbia Falls with burial to follow at Woodlawn Cemetery.

To send condolences visit Arletta's tribute page at columbiamortuary.com.