Fern M. Wettlaufer, 91, of Albert Lea, was called to her eternal home on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2009.
Fern was born on Oct. 1, 1918, in Emmons, the daughter of Knute and Betsy (Loberg) Sveen. Fern was the last surviving of 11 children born to them. She was baptized and confirmed at Silver Lake Lutheran Church in Worth Co., Iowa. Fern was, at one time, an employee of the American Gas Machine Co. of Albert Lea. In 1941, she was united in marriage to Eldon Wettlaufer, formerly of Madison, S.D. They resided in San Francisco, Calif., for several months before Eldon was sent overseas during the second WW. Fern then took employment at the Kaiser Shipyards in Richmond, Calif. After Eldon’s discharge from the service they resided in Albert Lea until 1948 when they purchased the Maid Rite Café in Northwood, Iowa. After two years ownership, they returned to Albert Lea where Eldon joined the Albert Lea Fire Department and later served as chief. Fern was employed by Drs. Sward and Blunt as a dental assistant. She was a member of First Lutheran Church, an active member of the Altar Guild. She was a volunteer for the Albert Lea Art Museum and Naeve Partners in Health. She loved music and was one of the Kulana Ukettes, a Does Ukelele and singing group, and a long time member of Albert Lea Civic Music. She often recalled fond memories of her golf-playing days at Green Lea Golf Club.
Left to hold dear her memory are her son, Larry Wettlaufer (Marlee Griffith) of Spokane, Wash.; her two daughters: Vicki (Gaylen) Ordalen of Kenyon and Marilyn (Robert) Cleveland of DeForest, Wis.; and six grandchildren: Gabriel Ordalen, Brady (Carrie) Wettlaufer and family, Jessica (Zach) Smith of Aurora, Colo., Richard (Tami) Cleveland and family of Stoughton, Wis., Kim (Darryl) Franklin and family of Indianapolis, Ind., and Kerry (Dan) Roeske and family of Lancaster, Pa., besides beloved nieces and nephews.
Preceding her in death and welcoming her into heaven are: her husband, Eldon; her granddaughter, Andrea Marilyn Ordalen; her sisters: Lillian (Gordon) Johnson, Lulu (Stanley) Sanderson, Cora (Rasmus) Sundal, and Bertha (Norris) Dahl; her brothers, Arthur (Irene) Sveen, Obert (Gladys) Sveen, Tony (Karen) Sveen, Franklin Sveen, Oliver (Mabel) Sveen and Melvin (Henrietta) Sveen.
I Corinthians 2:9 tells us, “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard what wonderful things God has prepared for those who love him.”
A funeral service will be held on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. at Bonnerup Funeral Service Chapel, 2210 E. Main St., Albert Lea. The Rev. John Holt will officiate. Interment will be in Hillcrest Cemetery. Following interment, friends and family are invited to share in fellowship and lunch at the funeral home.
The family has suggested memorials to Peace and Power of First Lutheran Church, 301 W. Clark, St., Albert Lea, or Crossroads Community Hospice, 404 W. Fountain St., Albert Lea.
The family wishes to extend thanks to the Albert Lea Fire Department for their Reassurance Call-In Program, Albert Lea Senior Resources volunteers, wonderful neighbors, the Good Samaritan Home Health Caregivers, Crossroads Community Hospice and several other special individuals who provided tender care.