Fern Whitlow, Mitchell

Fern Carstens Whitlow, 85, Mitchell, formerly of Huron, died Thursday, Feb. 7, 2013, at the Firesteel Healthcare Center in Mitchell.

She was born March 18, 1927.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Huron Christian Church with burial at Restlawn Memory Gardens Cemetery.

Visitation with family present will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Welter Funeral Home in Huron with a prayer service at 7 p.m. and one hour prior to the service at the church.

Fern Darlene Knouse was born in rural Iroquois to Fred and Myrtle (Bond) Knouse. She attended Beadle County Country School through the eighth grade.

Fern married Herbert Carstens on Jan. 3, 1947, in Huron. The couple moved to Ree Heights while Herbert worked for a rancher. They later moved back to Iroquois, where they both worked for the Iroquois Schools. Fern and Herbert moved to Huron in 1972. After Herbert died on Dec. 15, 1975, Fern started working at the Sun Set Supper Club. While working there, Fern met John Whitlow.

Fern married John Whitlow on Aug. 22, 1976, in Mitchell, and the couple moved to his farm near Forestburg. After they retired, they moved back to Huron. John died on Sept. 15, 1998.

Fern was a member of the Moose Lodge of Huron, and later of Mitchell; T.O.P.S Inc. in Huron and Mitchell, where she was crowned the State Queen runner-up; VFW Post No. 7756 Auxiliary in Gillette, Wyo., where her son was the commander; and an Extension Club in Iroquois. She enjoyed sewing, including her children’s clothes, reupholstering furniture and spending time with her children and grandchildren.

Fern is survived by her four sons, Herbert (Kathleen) Carstens of Bridgeport, Texas, Steve (Jeanne) Carstens of Kalamazoo, Mich., Bruce (Rose) Carstens of Mitchell, and Wayne (Carol) Carstens of Mitchell; 12 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren; six great-great-grandchildren; brother, Clarence “Heavy” Knouse of Huron; sisters, Jane DeLong of Huron, and Mary Meyers of Cavour; sister-in-law, Marilyn Dollenbacher of Cavour; several nieces and nephews.

Fern was preceded in death by her parents; both her husbands, Herbert in 1975 and John in 1998; grandson, Todd Bowen; two great-grandchildren, Amanda Busch and Noah Carstens; and five siblings, Melvin, Frank, Dorthy, Marvin and Donny.

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