Obituary published on Legacy.com by Cease Family Funeral Home - Blackduck from Jul. 15 to Jul. 16, 2025.
Fern Edith Lowe died on July 14, 2025. She was 101 years 1 month and 1 day old. Fern was born June 13, 1924 to Willie and Blanche Seim. She was born in a log cabin on the banks of the Grand River near Shadehill, South Dakota. Fern had 3 sisters- Clara, Susie and Nellie and 5 brothers – Wilford, Shelby, Norman, Horace and Nels. Fern attended grade school at 3 different country schools and high school in Bison, SD. She traveled by train with a friend to Scappoose, Oregon and worked at a broom handle factory, eventually returning to South Dakota as she missed the prairie. Fern met Harold Lowe at a country school dance. They eventually got married on June 13, 1947. Before she was married she taught school for four years at two country schools. After their marriage Fern & Harold moved to California. While in California their first son, Bruce was born. After 2 years they moved back to South Dakota. Harold worked at several different jobs and in 1950 a second son, Chipper was born. They eventually settled on a small ranch near Glad Valley. While living at Glad Valley, Fern taught school for 4 more years. Their third son, Clyde was born in 1956. In 1958 they moved to a ranch on Irish Creek 15 miles SW of Isabel, SD. Their daughter, Connie was born in 1959. After 9 years there, in 1967 they sold out and moved to
Northome, MN and continued ranching. Their fourth son, Mark was born in 1968. Fern taught Head Start in Big Falls for 4 years. She also planted trees for the state and did bookwork for Clairmont's Standard. Her last job was for Mizpah/Northome School. She worked there for many years as an aid, retiring at age 75 in 1999.
Everywhere Fern and Harold lived they made friends. She loved to cook and feed everyone. Her fried chicken, doughnuts, and buns were legendary. She loved to dance and play cards or just sit and visit. She raised a big garden every year, and won many prizes on her vegetables at the county fair. She put several puzzles together every winter.
In 2021 she moved to the Good Samaritan Home in Blackduck. Although she had dementia for the last several years she didn't let it get her down. She sang, danced and yahoo'ed her way through every day.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, all her siblings and their spouses, and a grandson.
She is survived by daughter Connie (Jim) White; sons, Bruce (Paula) Lowe, Chipper Lowe, Clyde Lowe, and Mark Lowe; grandkids, Danci, Josh, Lindsey, Brooke, Michele, Curtis, Travis, Jesse, & Corey; 20 great grandkids; and 6 great-great grandkids.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, July 26, 2025 at Cease Funeral Home in
Blackduck, MN. A visitation will be held for one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Interment will be in Forest Hill Cemetery in
Northome, MN.