Fern Smith

Fern Leona Sperr, daughter of Charlie and Florence (Smith) Sperr, was born on July 23, 1921 in Donnelly Township in Stevens County, Minnesota, where she was raised and attended country school. She later graduated from Alberta High School. On October 18, 1939, she was united in marriage to Gordon M. Smith. Fern and Gordon made their home on a farm in rural Donnelly, where they farmed, raised five children and were active in numerous organizations. Fern raised chickens and began collecting decorative chickens. That collection grew to such proportions that she became modestly "famous" throughout the local area as "The Chicken Lady". She also found time to keep a large vegetable garden and raised beautiful flowers that still bloom on the family farm. Fern was active in the Stevens County Homemakers Club and received many county fair ribbons over the years for her crocheting, embroidery, canning, gardening and baking. Fern lived on the family farm she had shared with her husband of over 50 years until 2001, when she sold the farm to her son Mike and his wife, Rhoda. Fern moved into Morris, where she continued to be active, crocheting, playing cards and visiting with family and friends.





More than anything, however, Fern loved and was loved by so many people. She had a wide-open smile and a wide-open heart. Fern will be missed by the countless people who shared a meal, a cup of coffee, a holiday celebration or even a place to stay in Fern's home. She had friends of all ages and walks of life, from places as close as Donnelly to as far away as Cypress, Turkey.





Fern died on Thursday, May 24, 2007 at the Stevens Community Medical Center in Morris, having lived to reach the age of 85 years.





She is survived by her four sons: Donnie (Dawn) Smith of Brooklyn Park, Happy Smith of Minneapolis, Mike (Rhoda) Smith of Donnelly and Greg Smith of Fridley; 11 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; ten brothers & sisters: Irene (Herb) Kill of Morris, Ralph (Bertie) Sperr of Morris, Charlotte (Hank) Atzmiller of St. Paul, Lucille Jenrich of Andover, Clinton (Vera) Sperr of Moses Lake, WA, June Hoover of Montclair, CA, Joyce Gerstner of Morris, Elwood (Marcella) Sperr of Forest Lake, Mildred Hines of St. Paul and Phyllis Tondelli of Tampa, FL and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband: Gordon; her beloved daughter: Trudy Smith and one sister: Vera Sperr.



The family requests that memorilas be sent to the American Heart Assc.