Fern Kane, 98, longtime Keldron ranchwife and homemaker, passed away Thursday afternoon at West River Regional Medical Center in Hettinger, ND.

The funeral service will be held 2:00pm Monday, June 6, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Morristown. Fr Kerry Prendiville will officiate with burial in the Morristown Cemetery.

FERN OVERTON was born on May 11, 1907 at Maza, ND to John and Elizabeth Overton. She attended Cando, ND schools, then Valley City, ND Teachers College. Upon graduation she taught first grade at Beach, ND, then in a rural Keldron, SD school. She soon met Thomas Kane, Sr. who courted her by horse. They married on July 2, 1936 in Morristown, SD. They spent their married years at Keldron where they farmed and ranched raising prized Hereford cattle. Fern was also in charge of the dairy cows they milked for many years.

Her main focus was her family. Fern and Tommy raised 5 children, teaching them the benefits of hard work. Fern raised a large garden, canning and freezing enough to last through the winter. Her cookie jar was always full for the grandkids that loved to stop by and hear her stories. Each of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren was a recipient of an afghan crocheted by her busy hands.

Fern was a founding member of the Sunshine Extension Club. She enjoyed gardening, growing flowers, working crossword puzzles, crocheting and playing games, especially Scrabble. She often could be found reading the dictionary. She took great enjoyment in following sport activities by radio.

Fern Kane passed away on Thursday evening, June 2nd at the West River Regional Medical Center in Hettinger, ND. She will be lovingly remembered and missed by her children: Helen (Darryl) Helland, of Lemmon, SD, Beverly, of Bismarck, ND, John (Mary Ann) of Keldron, Tucker (Vickie) of Thunder Hawk, SD and Fern (Ralph) Bartholomew, of Worland, WY. Her grandchildren number 15: Shari (Dennis) Evenson, Stacey (James) Whitmer, Toby Kane, Jeremy Kane, Debbie (Carter) Mollman, Darwin (Mary) Kane, Tami Jo Kane, Mike Kane, Stephanie (Chuck) Calkins, Paula (Tom) Wells, Jill (Kenny) Holyfield, Dean (Tonya) Bartholomew, Nancy Bartholomew, Mark Bartholomew and Nicole Bartholomew. Mason, Madisyn, Aidan, Fern Marie, Molly, Nicholas, Elizabeth, Kaley, Jenna, Ethan and Anna call her great grandma. Preceding Fern in death were her parents, her husband in 1983, one brother and one sister.