Fern Olesen

O. Fern Olesen, 97, of rural Turkey Ridge, S.D., passed away peacefully on Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, at Oakview Terrace in Freeman, S.D., under hospice care after a brief injury. Funeral services will be at 1:30 pm on September 12, 2024 at Bethany Lutheran Church in Hurley. Visitation will begin from 5:00 – 7:00 pm September 11, 2024, also at the church. Interment will be at the Hurley City Cemetery. The service will be broadcasted at https://www.facebook.com/HofmeisterJonesFuneralHome. Arrangements provided by Hofmeister-Jones Funeral Home.

She was born Nov. 9, 1926, in Sioux Falls, S.D., to Arnt and Pearl (Davidson) Mauseth. The family lived in Sioux Falls until 1942 when they moved to a farm west of Hurley. It was a bit of a surprise for Fern, as a sophomore, who had attended Washington High School in Sioux Falls, to then go to school at the Hurley American Legion Hall, because the Hurley school building had burned down.

On March 4, 1948, she married LaVern Olesen, and the couple farmed near Turkey Ridge, S.D. Fern and LaVern were married for 51 years until LaVern’s passing in 1999. She loved having her family in her home, and she hosted many family members in the house on the original Olesen “home place.” She was active in her faith and the WELCA group at church, serving as secretary for many years. She enjoyed baking and cooking for church functions and potluck dinners. She worked as a certified Nursing Assistant and medication aide in the Pioneer Memorial Nursing Home in Viborg, S.D., for 33 years. She truly enjoyed her job, the people she cared for, and those she worked with, and they appreciated her care for them.

After her retirement in 2002, she took several bus trips with the CorTrust Bank group, seeing many attractions she never would have seen otherwise. She and LaVern also enjoyed traveling with his cousin Wesley Olesen and wife Jenola and her brother, Harold and his wife Bernice. One memorable trip was their trip to Florida in Harold and Bernice’s motorhome for two weeks. In addition to her love of family, her church, and her work, Fern will always be remembered for being independent and wanting to do as much for herself as she could possibly do. She enjoyed living on the farm until her passing.

Grateful for her life are her three children: Larry of Turkey Ridge, Duane of Rapid City, S.D., and Lerae of Sioux Falls; three grandchildren: Kristi (Biswajit) Nayak of Sioux Falls, Julie (Matt) Viet of Parker, S.D., and Lance (Elizabeth) Olesen of Turkey Ridge; four great-grandchildren: Luke and Levi Viet and Paige and Clint Olesen; as well as other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband; parents; parents-in-law, Chris and Rosie Olesen; four sisters: Gladys, Violet, Helen, and Frida; five brothers: Lenard, Ronald, Harold, Delbert, and LeRoy; and two daughters-in-law: Jackie (Duane) and Barb (Larry).