International Falls - Fern Dahlen, 66, died Monday, December 21, 1998 at St. Mary's Medical Center in Duluth.
Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, December 26 at Zion Lutheran Church in International Falls with Reverend Paul Baker and Reverend Robert Ek officiating. Following the services in International Falls committal services were held at 3 p.m. at Zion Lutheran Church in Blackduck with Reverend Robert Kelly officiating. Casketbearers were Mike, Mark and Kurt Benson, Karl and Eric Gustafson, Dwight Kalvig, and Mike, Pat and Jon Smidt. Interment was in Lakeview Cemetery in Blackduck. The Cease Family Funeral Home of Blackduck was in charge of the arrangements.
Fern Erma Gustafson was born on May 18, 1932 in O'Brien township, the daughter of Elmer and Caroline (Hendrickson) Gustafson. She was baptized at Oak Hills Fellowship in 1946. She attended rural schools and graduated from Blackduck High School in 1950. Fern then attended Bemidji Business College where she studied secretarial and bookkeeping skills.
On February 23, 1952 she married Arthur Dahlen in Blackduck. Following their marriage the couple lived at Kindred, ND where she worked in the office of an implement dealer. She was confirmed at Norman Lutheran Church in Kindred in 1952. In April of 1953 the couple moved to International Falls. Fern and Art owned and operated an upholstery business for several years there. She worked part- time for School District 361 in International Falls from 1979 until 1997.
She was a member of Zion Lutheran Church, the Lutheran Brotherhood Assn., and the American Diabetes Assn. She was a 4-H leader for 15 years and was an active community volunteer for many years. She enjoyed needlework, sewing and making doll clothes.
Fern is survived by her husband, Arthur of International Falls; four sons, Reverend Robert (Sheila) Dahlen of Goodridge, Kevin (Laura) Dahlen of Dassel, Gary (Deb) Dahlen of Thief River Falls, and David (Anne) Dahlen of Zumbrota; four daughters, Mary Dahlen of International Falls, Debra (Charles) DeLeeuw of Rapid City, SD, and Nayda (Joe) Cheney and Rebecca Dahlen, both of Blackduck; 15 grandchildren; three brothers, Lyle (Marie) Gustafson of Blackduck, Argylle (Lynn) Gustafson of Spring, TX, and Donald (Cheryl) Gustafson of Burbank, CA; three sisters, Joyce (Robert) Miller of Vasalia, CA, Ethel (Nile) Benson of Blackduck, and Beth (Nick) Vitale of Vasalia, CA; and many aunts, uncles and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her parents.