Fern M. (Christenson) Darmody, 90, passed away May 3, 2023.
Fern was born Nov. 23, 1932, to Christian and Martha (Brenizer) Christenson, in the family farmhouse north of Cushing, Wisconsin. Fern was baptized and confirmed at Laketown Lutheran Church.
She attended Bass Lake and Orr elementary schools and graduated from Luck High School with her brother, Maurice. She was an excellent typist and learned shorthand for her upcoming secretarial jobs. In 1946, Fern and Morrie were stricken with polio. She was in the Grantsburg hospital for nine months.
Fern married John Patrick Darmody on Dec. 30, 1955. To this union two children were born, Lois and Thomas.
Starting in the ‘70s, Fern raised champion Pembroke Welch Corgis. She enjoyed her trips to Texas, Pennsylvania and other states for dog shows where her corgis won several blue ribbons. Fern was noted for her flower gardens in Wisconsin. For many years her flowers decorated the Laketown Lutheran Church each Sunday throughout the summer months. Another of Fern’s passions was her love of birds. She had bluebird nests erected in rural Cushing over the years, helping increase the bluebird population.
She enjoyed entertaining family and friends with her fine cooking skills.
She leaves behind her daughter, Lois (Darmody) Milnar; son, Thomas Darmody; grandchildren, Cameron and Blake Milnar and Bryn and Anna Darmody; brothers, Willis (Mary) Christenson and Maurice Christenson; sisters, Shirley Christenson and Rose Christenson; great-grandchildren, Naomi and Carmine; and nieces, nephews and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband, John Patrick Darmody; parents, Christian and Martha; sister, Ione Muehlhauser; brother-in-law, Bruce Muehlhauser; and grandniece, Salina Muelhauser.
A memorial service will be held at noon on Tuesday, May 16, at Mueller Memorial, 4738 Bald Eagle Ave., White Bear Lake, Minnesota, with visitation at 11 a.m. until the time of service. Interment will be at Fort Snelling National Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the family to donate in memory of Fern. Mueller Memorial-White Bear Lake, Minnesota, muellermemorial.com, 651-429-4944.
