Fern A. Diede - Madison: Oct. 12, 1929 – June 16, 2012

Fern A. Diede, 82, died Saturday, June 16, 2012, at Bethel Lutheran Home in Madison.

She was cared for by her Bethel family and her daughter and family throughout her struggle with complications associated from Parkinson’s disease.

Funeral services are at 10 a.m. Friday at First Presbyterian Church in Madison with the Rev. Terry Knudson and the Rev. Lorah Hauser Jankord officiating. Burial is at Riverside Cemetery in Huron. Visitation is one hour preceding the service at the church.

Fern Cranston was born Oct. 12, 1929, at Hot Springs to Hugh and Ada (Brandmire) Cranston. She was the youngest of eight children. Her early years were spent in Custer and she moved to Lindsay, Calif. to begin high school. Fern married Gene Harrison in 1949 and had one child, daughter Yvonne.

She married the Rev. Richard Diede in 1961 and devoted her life to attending to her husband and daughter. Fern surprised herself when becoming a minister’s wife, but she proved to be exactly the soft-spoken voice of support, confidence and guidance her family came to depend upon.

Her knack of finding the positive in all things and all people became the seed for lasting love of family and friends throughout the years. She was the family historian and kept numerous scrapbooks of all her family. Fern also compiled scrapbooks of Richard’s World War II memorabilia and church congregations they served.

Fern enjoyed traveling, which was a blessing, considering the many moves they made during his ministry as a United Church of Christ Congregational minister. They served churches in Faulkton, Eureka, and Canova; Ainsworth, West Point, New Brunswick and Plainsview, Neb.; and Mentone, Calif.

Fern worked as a bookkeeper for a number of years, but also enjoyed many years working for florists in the towns where they lived. She was creative, finding enjoyment with sewing, quilting, painting and making bridal veils.

Fern liked to dance and loved marching bands, having played the bass drum in high school.

She is survived by her daughter, Yvonne (Jeff) Jankord of Madison; two grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; a sister, Alma Bever of California, and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Richard, in 2010, three sisters and three brothers.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.ellsworthfh.com.