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Bright, Fern G. (1919-2017)

BRIGHT, HOLLESEN, WRIGHT, ROBERTS, BENSON, WOODALL, GLOVER, TJADEN, MAHNKE, GRAVENISH, STONE, ROMINE, NELSON

Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 8/2/2017 at 19:20:30

Fern G. Bright
April 7, 1919 - July 19, 2017

Fern G. Bright, age 98, of Sioux Rapids, Iowa, died on Wednesday, July 19, 2017, at the Hawkeye Care Center in Sioux Rapids.

Fern Gale Hollesen, a daughter of Bennie and Florence (Wright) Hollesen, was born in Sioux Rapids, Iowa, on April 7, 1919. She lived her youth and received her education in Sioux Rapids, graduating with the Class of 1937 from the Sioux Rapids Consolidated School. Fern was baptized in 1954 at the Methodist Church in Sioux Rapids and confirmed there as well in 1960.

On July 2, 1939, Fern married Elmer A. Bright, Jr., at the Methodist parsonage in Sioux Rapids. Subsequently, their marriage was blessed with three children: Donald, Becky, and Jon. Fern and Elmer spent their entire married life in Sioux Rapids. For twelve years, she was employed at Simonsen’s Ironworks. She, also, worked in many farm homes during the harvest and for local families doing housework and babysitting. After Ruth Sickles, a beloved nurse and owner of Sickles Hospital, retired and moved into her new home, Fern helped care for her in that home for several years. Above all, however, she, dearly, loved her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, and she, generously, gave of her time to them. A happy and proud homemaker, she is remembered as a kind and loving wife, mother, and grandmother. She found her greatest pleasure in having her family around her.

A member of the First United Church of Sioux Rapids and the Women’s Fellowship, Fern enjoyed gardening, baking, reading, and listening to music, especially that of her son, Don, and grandson, Kenny.

Fern’s life and memory is loved and cherished by her family which includes her children: Donald (Shirley) Bright, of Cherokee, Iowa, Jon (Julie) Bright, of Sioux Rapids, Iowa, and Becky Roberts, of Storm Lake, Iowa; her grandchildren: Kenny (Ginnie) Bright, of Cherokee, Iowa, Karen (Chris) Benson, of Dakota Dunes, South Dakota, Kathy (Jerry) Woodall, of Cherokee, Iowa, Clint (Jessica) Roberts, of Newell, Iowa, Nicole (Kale) Glover, of Marathon, Iowa, Kirk (Mallory) Bright, of Sioux Rapids, Iowa, and Kayla (Stephen) Tjaden, of Sioux Rapids, Iowa; her great grandchildren: Ethan, Evan Eli, and Ella Roberts; Kase and Kage Glover; Boden, Tristan, and Jaida Bright; Rush Tjaden; Jessica, Emily, and Gabby Benson; Seth Mahnke; and Morgan Gravenish; her great-great grandson, Conner Mahnke; her brother, Dean Hollesen, of Sioux Rapids, Iowa; her sister, Marge Stone, of Moberly, Missouri; and her sister-in-law, Laura Hollesen, of Everly, Iowa; as well as by other extended family members and many friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Elmer, on November 3, 2001; her sisters, Lilah Romine and Marlene Nelson; and two brothers, Kenneth and Dale Hollesen.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, July 22, 2017, at 10:30 a.m. at the First United Church in Sioux Rapids. Burial will follow in the Lone Tree Cemetery in Sioux Rapids. Visitation will take place Friday, July 21, 2017, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Sliefert Funeral Home in Sioux Rapids. The Sliefert Funeral Home in Sioux Rapids is overseeing the arrangements.

Sliefert Funeral Homes, Sioux Rapids, 2017


 

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