Funeral services for 72-year-old Fern Mathies of Denison were held Wednesday August 10, 2003, at the St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Denison with burial at the St. Rose of Lima Catholic Cemetery in Denison.

Fern was a sister of Gordon Weller of Westside. Other survivors include: five sons, Steven and his wife, Kathy of Deloit; James of Kiron; Gerald and his wife, Cecilia of Deloit; Mark and his wife, Cindy of Denison; Russell and his wife, Debra of Spirit Lake; one daughter, Kristin Woebke and her husband, Dan of Denison; sixteen grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren; one other brother, Loren Weller and his wife, Helen of Manning; two sisters, Gladys Petersen and her husband, Carl of Schleswig; Cleo Bohm and her husband, Ray of Estherville; other relatives and friends.

Fern was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Allen in 2003.

Fern Lorena Mathies was born August 2, 1933, the daughter of Edward and Hilda Anna (Gottsch) Weller. She died Friday, August 5, 2005, at the St. Anthony Regional Hospital in Carroll at the age of seventy-two after a short battle with cancer.

Fern was born on a farm south of Buck Grove. She received her education in a rural school near her home and graduated from the Manning High School with the class of 1931. Fern met Allen "Jack" Mathies while working at Olsen's Bakery and they were united in marriage on April 16, 1953, at the St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Denison. The couple made their home in Deloit for a short time, then moving to Denison and were blessed with the birth of six children. After the children were grown, Fern worked alongside Jack at the Farm Service Shop in Deloit.

Fern was happiest when doting over her family and helping others. She was a member of St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Denison and their Altar Society. Fern was also a member of Topps and the Red Hat Society. She loved spending time with her family and friends. She was an excellent cook and seamstress who enjoyed flower gardening, quilting blankets, baking and won numerous blue ribbons for her baking at the fair. After retirement she enjoyed traveling with Allen in the United States and several trips abroad. Fern also enjoyed going to a movie and dinner with her friends and going to the Casinos.