June 13, 1924 – July 14, 2025
Fern Edith Lowe died on July 14, 2025, in Blackduck, MN. She was 101 years, 1 month and 1 day old.
Fern was born June 13, 1924 to Willie and Blanche Seim. She was born in a log cabin on the banks of the Grand River near Shadehill. She attended grade school at three different country schools and high school in Bison. Fern traveled by train to Scappoose, OR and worked at a broom handle factory, eventually returning to South Dakota as she missed the prairie.
Fern met Harold Lowe at a country school dance. They eventually got married on June 13, 1947. Before she was married she taught school for four years at two country schools. After their marriage they moved to California, where their first son, Bruce, was born. After two years they moved back to South Dakota. Harold worked at several different jobs and in 1950 a second son, Chipper was born. They eventually settled on a small ranch near Glad Valley.
Fern taught school for four more years. Their third son, Clyde, was born in 1956. In 1958 they moved to a ranch on Irish Creek 15 miles from of Isabel. Their daughter, Connie, was born in 1959. After 9 years there, in 1967 they sold out and moved to Northome, MN and continued ranching. Their fourth son, Mark, was born in 1968.
Fern taught Head Start in Big Falls, MN for four years. She also planted trees for the state and did bookwork for Clairmont’s Standard. Her last job was for Mizpah/Northome School, as an aid, retiring at age 75 in 1999. In 2021 she moved to the Good Samaritan Home in Blackduck.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, all her siblings and their spouses, and a grandson. Fern is survived by daughter Connie (Jim) White; sons Bruce (Paula) Lowe, Chipper Lowe, Clyde Lowe, and Mark Lowe; grandkids Danci, Josh, Lindsey, Brooke, Michele, Curtis, Travis, Jesse, and Corey; 20 great-grandkids; and six great-great-grandkids.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 26, 2025 at Cease Funeral Home in Blackduck. A visitation will be held for one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Interment will be in Forest Hill Cemetery in Northome.