Fern Zabell

Fern D. Zabell, age 100, of Wheaton, Minnesota passed away Tuesday, November 15, 2016 at Sanford Hospital in Fargo, North Dakota.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday, November 19, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at Ave Maria Catholic Church in Wheaton with Fr. John Paul Knopik and Fr. Stanley Wieser Concelebrants. Organist will be Cindy Sanasack with special music provided by Lynae Berger and Lonnie Schmidt.

Visitation will be held Friday evening, November 18th from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. with a 7:00 p.m. Prayer Service at Ave Maria Catholic Church. Visitation will continue Saturday morning from 10:00 a.m. until service time at the church.

Burial will be in St. Peter's Catholic Cemetery, rural Dumont, Minnesota. Bearers will be Fern's grandchildren.

Fern Dorothy Finke was born September 14, 1916 in Wheaton, Minnesota to Edward and Amelia (Wick) Finke. She grew up in Traverse County and attended school in Walls Township. She was united in marriage to Harold Zabell on June 19, 1935. The couple lived in Dumont, Minnesota until moving to Wheaton in 1976. She did many jobs including painting, working at the Dumont Locker Plant, running her own ceramic shop and she worked for the Wheaton Inn for over fifty years. She did a lot of sewing including bridesmaid dresses. She also enjoyed crocheting tablecloths for her children and grandchildren. Fern once tore down an old barn and built a garage from the lumber. Fern was a member of Ave Maria Catholic Church in Wheaton.

Fern is survived by her children: Rodney (Donna) Zabell of Snohomish, Washington; Myrna (Carroll) Vye of Cheyenne, Wyoming; and Connie (Stan) Churchill of Wheaton; four grandchildren: Susan (Matt) Koetje of Stanwood, Washington; Andy Churchill of Wheaton; Amy Churchill of Wheaton; and Carroll Vye II of Cheyenne, Wyoming; four great-grandchildren: John Koetje of Stanwood, Washington; Laura Koetje of Sedro Woolley, Washington; and Willem and Cameron Nelson of Scotts Bluff, Nebraska; one brother Francis (Avis Janke) Finke of Wheaton; and numerous extended family.

Fern was preceded in death by her parents; husband; grandson Scott Zabell; sisters: Mary Gaulrapp, Violet Hunt, Carolyn Wood, Hazel Wood, Bernita Shuller and Gwendolyn Zockert; and brothers: Henry, Edward, Martin, Lyle and Traverse.