Fern Elizabeth Stotsenberg passed on to her eternal heavenly home on Wednesday, September 19, 2018 at age 90 after losing her four-year battle with cancer.
Fern was born on January 1, 1928 to Stephen and Millie (Matson) Heathman, delivered by midwife on a 20-acre farm near Oakley, Kansas, the second of three daughters.
At the age of two the family left the Dust Bowl of Kansas and moved back to Nevada, Missouri to be near family relatives. After graduating from Nevada High School in 1945 she attended secretarial school in Kansas City. After graduating, she began her first secretarial job working for a short time at a real estate company until her parents decided to move west and ended up in Yakima in 1946.
Fern worked as a secretary for two loan companies and the Herald-Republic until her marriage to Harry Stotsenberg, whom she met at church camp. They were married at First Christian Church on September 17, 1949. Fern was Harry’s right-hand partner, keeping the books for Harry’s used cars and trailer sales business, their Log Motel business, and later, up until her passing, their Trailer Village mobile home park.
Their marriage was blessed with three daughters, Sally Daniel of Pasadena, Maryland, Norma Jackson and Karen Stotsenberg both of Yakima. Other survivors include grandson Ben Daniel of Los Angeles, oldest sister Norma Wonder of Seattle, and numerous nieces and nephews. Preceding her in death are her parents, husband Harry, youngest sister Mary Gardner, and son-in-law Scott Daniel.
Fern enjoyed being a Senior & Social member of the Yakima Country Club for over 60 years, playing golf and weekly bridge with friends. Being a homebody by nature, she did enjoy the opportunity to see the world on several trips her daughter, Sally, invited the family on. Mom was our matriarch, our rock. She had a generous heart and was always there when we needed her. She handled any difficulty with a positive, “one day at a time” attitude. She will be dearly missed.
At Fern’s request there will be no services. A private scattering of ashes will be chosen at a later date