Ferne C. Rowenhorst

Ferne Rowenhorst, 86, died Monday, December 14, 2009 at the Tieszen Memorial Home in Marion. Funeral services will be at 1:30 pm Thursday, December 17, 2009 at the First Presbyterian Church, Parker with burial in Rosehill Cemetery, Parker. Visitation will begin at noon Wednesday at Hofmeister-Jones Funeral Home, Parker with family present from 6-8:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Shriner's Children Hospital or to a charity of the donor's choice. Ferne C. Rowenhorst was born on April 15, 1923 at Parker to John and Anna (Weise) Kingsboro. After graduating from Parker High School, she attended beauty school in Sioux Falls. On February 24, 1941 she was united in marriage to Harold Rowenhorst at Rock Rapids, IA. They farmed and she operated a beauty shop out of her home for 41 years, retiring in 1999. Her husband Harold died in 1981. She was united in marriage to Kermit Mellegaard on November 24, 1984 at Parker. Kermit died in 2005. She has been a member of the First Presbyterian Church since 1950 and was a past member of the Eastern Star and Rebekas. Grateful for having shared her life are 3 sons, Eugene (Vicky), Sioux Falls, James (Barb), Rapid City, and Ron (Nikki), Parker; a daughter, Karen (David) Bence, Tuscon, AZ; 13 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren; a step daughter, Diane (Martin) Burkholder, Sioux Falls; a step daughter-in-law, Charlene Mellegaard, Parker; 2 step-grandchildren and 2 step-great grandchildren; and a brother Wayne Kingsboro, Sioux Falls. She was preceded in death by her parents, husbands Harold and Kermit, a sister Irene Bones, and a step-son Darwin.