Fern Wangen

Funeral services for Fern Wangen will be held at 2:00 PM Saturday, November 25, 2017 at Oakland Lutheran Church, 22042 850th Ave, rural Albert Lea. Reverend Waldemar Gies will officiate. Visitation will be held from 4:00 PM until 7:00 PM Friday, November 24 at Bonnerup Funeral Service in Albert Lea. Interment will be in Oakland Lutheran Cemetery.

Fern Helen (Frondal) Wangen, 93, was born October 15, 1924 to Knut and Ella (Hove) Frondal in Moscow Township in Freeborn County, MN. She died on November 15, 2017 at St. Mark’s Lutheran Home in Austin, MN.

Fern was baptized, confirmed, and married at the Oakland Lutheran Church, Albert Lea, MN. She attended rural Lee School, Hollandale School, and was a 1942 graduate of the Albert Lea High School. She worked at the Land O’ Lakes egg plant and as a cashier at the Oakland, Lyle and Rose Creek State Banks before her marriage to Walter.

Fern married Walter S. Wangen on October 6, 1946. They raised their five children; Arden, Gary, Warren, Dale, and Mary on a dairy farm near Oakland, MN. Fern was a busy homemaker, cooking, baking, canning and freezing fruits and vegetables that Walter raised in his garden. She enjoyed quilting and presented a quilt to each grandchild on their confirmation day. She loved to dance and spent many hours playing cards. Fern and Walter enjoyed dressing in their traditional Norwegian Bunad (costume). Fern loved making Norwegian goodies like Krumkake, lefse, and many other Norwegian foods. Fern and Walter felt it was very important for their grandchildren and great grandchildren to learn how to make lefse. The family enjoys getting together every year to continue this tradition.

Fern and Walter enjoyed traveling, especially the five trips to Norway where they met many relatives and did research for publishing five family genealogy books.

Fern was an active member of the Oakland Lutheran Ladies Aid, was President, Vice President, and financial secretary of the Oakland Church council. She was a teacher and superintendent of the Oakland Sunday School. Fern also served as President, Vice President, and social director of the Sons of Norway in Albert Lea.

Fern and Walter lived on the farm for 63 years. After Walter’s death, Fern moved to The Cedars of Austin, MN.

Fern is survived by her son Arden (Kleone) Wangen of Albert Lea, MN, son Gary Wangen of Hayward, MN, son Warren (Vilita) Wangen of Canyon Country, CA, daughter-in-law, Brenda Wangen (Tony Klapperick) of Albert Lea, MN, daughter Mary (David) Knurek of New Smyrna Beach, FL; brother, Stanley Frondal of Albert Lea, MN; sisters-in-law, Alice Brunmeier Lee of Rochester, MI and Irene Johnson of Ellendale, MN. She was blessed with 15 grandchildren, 22 great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

Fern was preceded in death by her husband, Walter; her parents, Knut and Ella (Hove) Frondal; son, Dale Wangen; great granddaughter, Kaylee Wangen; mother and father-in-law, Martin and Betsy (Slinde) Wangen; brother, Arnold Frondal; sister and brother-in-law, Adeline and Mike Cochlin; sister-in-law, Arlene Frondal; brothers-in-law, Ivan Wangen, Vern Brunmeier, Merrill Lee, Norman Johnson; brother-in-law and sister-in-law,  Arnold ‘Bud’ and Janice Wangen; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Berline and Ernest Johnson.

The family wishes to extend their most sincere thanks to the staff of the Cedars, Mayo Medical Center, St. Mark’s Lutheran Home and Mayo Hospice all of Austin, MN for the kindness and respect shown to Fern and her family.