Ferne M. Toft, 94, Spirit Lake

 

December 30, 2021



Funeral services for Ferne M. Toft were held Monday, Dec. 27, 2021, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Royal, with Pastor Mark Wilms officiating.

Casket bearers were all of her grandchildren. Interment was in Willow Creek Cemetery at Royal. Warner Funeral Home in Spencer assisted with the arrangements.

Ferne Mae Toft was born in the Sioux Rapids vicinity on Sept. 6, 1927. She was the youngest child born to Fred and Anna Tielbur Lohof. She had two older siblings, Ray Frederick Lohof and Ruth Ina Brugger.

Ferne grew up in Clay and Palo Alto counties. After graduation from Cornell, she attended NBT business school in Sioux City. She worked for a short time at the Primghar Farm Bureau office before her marriage to a farmer, Ralph Christian Toft, on Dec. 22, 1946. There was always much work to do on the farm. There was no running water or plumbing. The water was pumped by the horses for the chicken house, for which Ferne was responsible. She carried two five-gallon pails of water, one in each arm, to a 60-gallon barrel for the laying hens. There were always eggs to clean and pack in 30 dozen cases.

Ferne was a wonderful seamstress. When her second son was born, Ralph brought home a new Pfaff sewing machine. She made a lot of her family’s clothes. She even got a college credit in tailoring from Emmetsburg Junior College. As her family grew, she used her talents to make beautiful quilts for her children and grandchildren which will forever be treasured. She was also active in making quilts at church for missions.

Summertime on the farm meant gardening. Ferne always had a large garden and canned or froze many vegetables and fruits. Ferne loved flowers and had many beautiful flower beds to care for and enjoy.

Along with family, Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Royal was an important part of her life. She held offices on church council, circle, Ladies Aid, Altar Guild, junior missionary leader and sang in the church choir for over 40 years.

Ferne was preceded in death by her parents; her loving husband, Ralph, in 2012; brother, Ray Lohof, of Germany; sister and brother-in-law, Ruth and Bill Brugger, of Torrance, Calif.; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Mildred and Myron “Turp” Swanson, of Royal; and sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Marion and Ralph Dumkrieger, of Linn Grove.

Ferne is survived by her sister-in-law, Marianne Lohof, of Germany; son Gary (Mary Kay Lux), of Arnolds Park; son Greg (Renee) Toft, of Spencer; daughter Diana (Jim) Mingus, of Spencer; grandchildren: Gabe Toft, of Spirit Lake; Nathan Toft, of California; Mariah Toft, of California; Lathe (Nicole) Toft, of Papillion, Neb.; Lexi Toft, of Elkhorn, Neb.; Sara Johnson, of Chandler, Ariz.; Mara Seversen, of Spencer; Christa (Ryan) Opheim, of Bloomington, Ind.; Carolyn Lux, of Denver, Colo.; and David (Kori) Lux, of Everly; great-grandchildren: Emelynn Ferne Toft, Ruth and Wyatt Lohof Tackett, Lauren and Owen Toft, Davin, Dakoda and Dixon Lux, Carson Wendel and Kaleigh Toft, Madeline and Marlee Johnson, Aiden, Braden and Macie Seversen, and Violet Mae, Emery and Ruby Opheim; and many other relatives and friends.

 
 

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