Fern Mauer

Fern Violet Mauer, 96, a resident of Fergus Falls, died Friday, August 23, 2013, at the PioneerCare Homestead Cottage in Fergus Falls.

She was born July 6, 1917, in rural Elizabeth, the daughter of Ambrose and Cora (Knobel) Perkins. She grew up in rural Elizabeth and attended country school there.

On September 17, 1936 she married Frank Mauer. They started a family in Karlstad, Minnesota and later moved to Greenbush, Minnesota. In 1944, Frank was drafted into the Army, and the family moved to Fergus Falls, where Fern continued to reside.

Fern was a homemaker and mother to six daughters. Her husband died in 1961. She began working as a cook at Our Lady of Victory School and then, the Community College and Lake Region Hospital.

Fern was all about family and church. She especially loved the annual family camping trip to Itasca State Park and the annual Perkins reunion. She was a lifelong member of Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church, attending weekly mass and participating in St. Clare's Mission Circle.

Fern enjoyed cooking, gardening, walking and coffee with her friends. She was a Minnesota Twins fan, a great supporter of Fergus Falls college basketball and a member of "TOPS." Fern took great pride in keeping her home, yard and car looking good at all times.

Preceding her in death were her husband; her parents; two sisters, Eleanor Thompson and Daisy Halverson; three brothers, Robert, Donald and Ralph Perkins; twin sons who died at birth; and a son-in-law, Bruce Meyer.

Survivors include six daughters: Margaret Bach of Portland OR, Mae (Edwin) Staub of Dublin CA, Shirley Meyer of Fergus Falls, Sharon (Curtis) Bergerson of Fergus Falls, Linda (Ronald) Mohagen of Vadnais Heights, and Denise (Timothy Piper) Mauer of Fergus Falls. Also surviving are over 60 grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren; four sisters: Grace Bengtson of Stanchfield, Doris Long of Richfield, Ilene Bice of Fergus Falls, and Irene (Jim) Groschupf of Whitefish MT; and one brother Earl Perkins of Maplewood; and many cousins, nieces, nephews, friends and caregivers.

Memorials are preferred to Lakeland Hospice or Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church, both of Fergus Falls.
Visitation: 5-7 pm Tuesday with a prayer service at 6:30 pm at Olson Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service at the church
Mass of Christian Burial: 11 am Wednesday at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church, Fergus Falls
Clergy: Father Alan Wielinski
Interment: St. Otto's Cemetery, Fergus Falls MN.
Olson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls is in charge of the arrangements.