Fern Stringham

Fern Stringham

August 12, 1928 - February 11, 2018

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Fern Stringham, age 89, passed away on February 11, 2018 at Dougherty Hospice House in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Funeral services will be held on February 22, 2018 at 1:00 PM at Spirit of Peace UCC in Sioux Falls.  Reverend Jean Morrow and Reverend Cindy Hoy will officiate.  There will be a family graveside service at Hills of Rest Cemetery in Sioux Falls.

Visitation will be after 5:00 PM on February 21, 2018 with the family present from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at the Heritage Funeral Home.  Arrangements are with the Heritage Funeral Home in Sioux Falls.

Fern Lorraine Walkins was born on August 12, 1928 to Jacob and Jennie (Bossmann) Walkins in Portland Township, Deuel County, South Dakota. She attended country schools near Goodwin and Lennox, SD.  Fern graduated from Parker High School, Parker, SD as well as Nettleton Business College in Sioux Falls.

On September 4, 1948, Fern married Jimmie Russell Powell at First Methodist Church in Sioux Falls. To this union four children were born:  Jimmie Russell Jr., Peggy Jo, Jay Allen, and Susan Michelle.  The couple divorced in 1960.

Fern married William A. Stringham on February 14, 1964 in Sioux Falls. Fern was a bookkeeper and secretary at many firms throughout Sioux Falls including Eugene Field Elementary School, KELO TV, Palmer Construction, Viking Glass, Dr. Philip Sietstra and ServiceMaster.

She was an avid bridge player and gardener, kept up long friendships established early in her life and was a faithful member of the United Methodist Church. She was also a member of American Business Women’s Association, served as Senator Larry Pressler’s Senior Intern in 1990 and was honored as Senior Citizen of the Month in 1994.

Survivors include four children and their spouses, three stepsons and their spouses, ten grandchildren and six great-grandchildren: Jimmie and Nancy Powell of Vienna, VA and their children Jay, Lindsey Powell and Mike Freundlich and great-grandson Calvin,  and Kevin ; Peg and Perry Werner of Fergus Falls, MN and children Jenn and Paul Straumann and great-grandson Milo, Megan and Katy Johnson and Jesse and Lisa Johnson and great-granddaughter Eleanor; Jay and Michelle Powell of Sioux Falls and their children Dylan and Betsy; and Shelly and Mike Gardner of Sioux Falls and their children Ryan and Laura Gardner and great-grandchildren Graham, Brennan and Grace and Evan and his finance Megan Nissen.  She is also survived by three step-sons Albert and Guyanne Stringham of Rockford, IL; Paul and MaryAnne Stringham of Newbern, Tennesee and Wayne Stringham of Sioux Falls.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband William A. Stringham and a stepson Russell Stringham.

Memorials may be made to Sioux Empire United Way or Spirit of Peace Church.

 

 

Funeral Service

Spirit of Peace UCC
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