Fern Hesse, 80, passed away Friday, November 24, 2006 at Riverview Health Care Center, Crookston, MN of multiple medical conditions.

Funeral service will be 10:30 AM Friday, December 1, 2006 at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Plummer, MN with Rev. Rick Hensel officiating. Burial will follow at Oak Grove Cemetery in Red Lake Falls, MN.

Visitation will be from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM with a 7:00 PM prayer service on Thursday, November 30, 2006 at Johnson Funeral Service in Red Lake Falls, MN. Visitation will also be held on Friday at the church starting at 9:30 AM.

Fern Elizabeth Malwitz was born in a farm house in Gervais Township about 5 miles east of Red Lake Falls, MN on October 11, 1926 the daughter of Emil and Myrtle (Greenwald) Malwitz. Fern was the 4th of 6 children " Willard, Kenneth, Crystal, Fern, Lila and John. She was baptized on October 31, 1926 and confirmed on June 23, 1940 at St. Johns Lutheran Church in Red Lake Falls, MN.

Emil & Myrtle moved to Plummer, MN when Fern was a junior in high school. Fern stayed with her Grandma Malwitz in Red Lake Falls in order to continue school. After graduation, Fern and her friend Alice Gulseth took the train to Milwaukee, Wisconsin where they went to work for Signal Battery Defense Plant. Eventually Fern moved back to Plummer, MN where she met her future husband, Floyd Hesse. He was back from serving in World War II and was attending church dressed in his uniform when they met. Fern was engaged on Easter Sunday 1945 and they were the first couple married in Redeemer Lutheran Church in Plummer, MN on September 23, 1946. They made their home on the Hesse family farm west of Plummer. In 1966, they moved to a dairy farm south of Thief River Falls. They returned to the original family farm site in 1969. Fern worked hard on the farm. She also worked at Arctic Cat from 1979-1980.

To this union 5 children were born " Diane, Bonnie, Scott, Vickie, and Nancy Jo. Tragedy struck the family in 1966 when Scott was killed in a deer hunting accident and again in 2003 when Vickie lost her life to breast cancer. The familys strong faith brought them through these difficult times.

Fern loved to dance. She was active in church and served as Sunday school teacher and Ladies Aid President for many years. Fern was a Gold Star Sister, Girls State Chairman for 20 years, and was active in the Auxiliary for 57 years. She put on fantastic shows for the Legion and family reunions. She had a real talent for entertaining and got the whole family involved. She led performances that included Momma & Eunice, Johnny Cash, Kitty Wells, Archie Bunker, History of Plummer, and the Fernie Awards. Fern enjoyed crocheting, embroidery, word-find, bird-watching, reading, vegetable gardening, canning, Fern High cooking and bingo. The focus of Ferns life was her family.

Survivors include husband, Floyd of Plummer, MN; daughters, Diane Grinde, Elk River, MN, Bonnie (Patrick) Wichterman of Baldwin, ND and Nancy Jo (Karl) Mattison of Amissville, VA; son-in-law, Ross Olson of Moorhead, MN; 12 grandchildren, Wade (Sarah) Grinde, Amanda (Brian) Bakken, Ericka Grinde, Dan Wichterman, Kristi (Dave) Jobe, Ryan (Jennifer) Wichterman, Cody Wichterman, Chelsey Olson, Brandon Olson, Cierra Olson, Taylor Mattison and Levi Mattison; 6 great grandchildren, Chase, Caden and Tysen Grinde, Ashley and Kelby Jobe, and Jazzmine Wichterman; sisters, Crystal (Fritz) Martell of Red Lake Falls, MN, Lila (LeRoy) Brekke of Mesa, AZ, and John (Colleen) Malwitz of Red Lake Falls, MN, and several nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

She is preceded in death by her parents; son, Scott; daughter, Vickie; son-in-law, Milt Grinde; and brothers, Willard and Kenneth.

Family condolences may be sent at www.johnsonfuneralservice.com