Caledonia Argus

Posted: 2/19/02

Fern Mitchell

Fern W. Mitchell, 93, of Caledonia, and formerly of Kellogg, MN, died Wednesday, February 13, 2002, at The Lutheran Home, Caledonia. She was born December 9, 1908 in Caledonia to Eugene and Emma (Koethe) Wilhelm. Fern attended school in Caledonia graduating in 1926. On December 4, 1937, she married Lloyd Klein in La Crescent.

Fern was employed with Northwestern Bell Telephone Company for many years, living in Caledonia, St. Charles and Austin before retiring in 1960. During this time she met Lawrence Mitchell and they were married on June 28, 1952 in Osage, IA. Following her retirement, Fern and Lawrence moved to Kellogg, where they lived along the backwaters of the Mississippi River.

Fern enjoyed fishing and watching and feeding birds. After Lawrence died on February 23, 1995, Fern moved to the Caledonia Lutheran Home. She had been a member of the Rebecca Lodge of Austin, the Pioneers (Northwestern Bell retirees), and the Kellogg United Methodist Church where she also was a member of the Church Women United. Fern enjoyed her family and friends and will be missed by all who knew her.

Survivors include her daughter, Betty Duff, Caledonia; a daughter-in-law, Patricia Mitchell, Minneapolis; a step-daughter, Marion Anderson, Minneapolis; three grandchildren; two step-grandsons; two great-grandchildren; nephews and nieces.

In addition to her husband, Fern was preceded in death by her parents; a son, Charles in 1977; two sisters, Mae Heintz and Mildred Inglett; a brother, LeRoy Wilhelm; and two brothers in infancy.

Services will be held at the Caledonia United Methodist Church on a later date and will be announced by the Haugen- Roble-Jandt Funeral Home, Caledonia.

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