Ferne Graening

Ferne Graening, age 94, of Barnesville, Minnesota died Friday, June 29, 2012 at the Villa Maria Nursing Home in Fargo, North Dakota. Ferne Marie (Furst) Graening was born in rural Barnesville on June 13, 1918, to Roman and Lena Furst. She was raised in Barnesville and attended the Assumption Catholic School. She moved to Crystal Lake, Illinois, to assist her aunt in taking care of her aunts twins. While in Illinois, she met and married Donald Louis Graening on September 7, 1940. While her husband was serving overseas in the Army during World War II, she supported the war effort by being a supervisor at a drill factory. Ferne and Don had one son, Donald Leslie Graening, in 1946. After raising their son, Ferne and Don owned and operated The Coffee Cup Restaurant in Crystal Lake. In 1967, Ferne and Don moved back to Barnesville and owned and operated The Eagles Caf Restaurant. After selling The Eagles, they then owned and operated The Shamrock Tavern. Ferne and Don were very active in the community through the VFW and the American Legion. They helped start the annual Easter Egg Hunt in Barnesville. Ferne was also a lifelong member of Assumption Catholic Church and St. Marthas Guild. She also volunteered for the Church in various capacities and drove a group of ladies to Mass every Saturday night for over 35 years. Her husband, Donald, passed away October 16, 1982. Fernes passion was helping others, especially her grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren. Ferne is survived by her son, Donald (Christy) Graening, Grafton, WV; grandchildren: Renee (Michael) Gravalin, Fargo; Rhonda (Thomas) Gravalin, Fargo; David (Elizabeth) Graening, Fargo; Donnie (Shelly) Graening, West Fargo, ND; Jason (Crystal) Graening, Moorhead, MN; Blain Graening, Idaho; Tyler Graening, Brainerd, MN; and Trevor Graening, Miami, FL. She is also survived by great-grandchildren, Alison, Sean, Katelyn, McKenna, Sara (Jeff), Erin (Lucas), Samantha, Caitlyn, Samantha, Brendan, Ian and Lainey and great-great grandchildren, Cameron, Kai, Westin and Madisyn and her loyal friend, Edith Broederdorf. Ferne was preceded in death by her parents, Roman and Lena Furst, brothers Arthur and Leslie Furst, sister Lucille Kara, and her beloved husband, Donald Graening. Funeral Mass: 11:00 am, Tuesday, July 3, 2012 at Assumption Catholic Church in Barnesville, Minnesota. Visitation: Will be held on Monday at the Dobmeier Funeral Home from 5:00 pm until 7:00 pm with a 7:00 pm Prayer Service and will resume one hour prior to services in the church. Burial: St. Marys Catholic Cemetery, Barnesville, Minnesota Memorials are preferred to the American Heart Association or Hospice of the Red River Valley. The Dobmeier Funeral Home of Barnesville is assisting the family with arrangements.