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Fern Elsen, 88, of Aberdeen, SD, passed away Sunday, August 24, 2014 at Bethesda Home in Aberdeen,
Vera Fern Osterloh was born at her Uncle Orley Colestock’s house in Hecla, on July 5, 1926 (on her mom’s birthday) to Henry and Vera Fern (Wood) Osterloh. She grew up and attended school in Hecla, graduating from Hecla High School in 1944.
Vera Fern worked for Hub City Iron Company in Aberdeen, before her marriage to Leonard Elsen on November 19, 1945. They lived with Grandma Colestock before moving to their farm near Hecla in 1948. She resided there until she entered the nursing home in July 2003. Leonard passed away in April 1994.
Her life consisted of being a farmwife, mother to five boys and one girl, and an active church member including church secretary. She was also a member of St. John’s WELCA, the Greater Hecla Association, Guelph Whirlaways Square Dance Club, West River Extension Club, County Extension Board and the Brown County Fair Board.
She loved to play cribbage, bake bread and rolls, which included teaching this skill to many of her grandchildren. She won numerous blue ribbons at the Brown County Fair. She also enjoyed watching the Minnesota Twins, visiting with her friends and family and she was the driver for many of the neighbor ladies. Holidays were always a big family affair at the farm.
She loved driving her scooter around the nursing home and visiting the other residents and going to the ballfield nearby to watch the St. John’s team from Hecla play.
Grateful for having shared her life are her children, Gary (Jeannie) Elsen, Tulsa, OK, Dave (Linda) Elsen, Aberdeen, SD, Cathy (Greg) Lewis, Morris, MN, Cliff (Terri) Elsen, Hecla, Craig (Linda) Elsen, Eagan, MN and Owen (Janet) Elsen, Hecla; 19 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; 1 great-great-grandchild; 11 step-grandchildren; and 21 step-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Henry and Vera, husband, Leonard, a sister, Isabelle, 3 brothers, Virgil, LeRoy and Bobby, 2 sisters-in-law, Lucille and Jean, granddaughter, Teneil and daughter-in-law, Marge.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, August 28, 2014 from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. with a prayer service starting at 7:00 p.m. at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Hecla. Her funeral service will be Friday, August 29, 2014 at 10:30 a.m. also at St. John’s Lutheran Church, with Pastor Jay Haaland officiating. An on-line guestbook may be signed at www.dahlstromfuneralhome.com
The family is very grateful for all the workers at Bethesda who also became her family. Rest in peace Mom!