Irene Ferden

Irene Ferden, age 94, of Fosston, MN (long-time piano and elementary school music teacher) passed away on Tuesday, November 8th at Essentia Health First Care Living Center in Fosston.  A celebration of Irene's life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 24th, at Kingo Lutheran Church in Fosston with the Rev. Aage Carlsen officiating. Interment will be in Kingo Lutheran Cemetery, Fosston. Family will greet friends for one hour prior to the service on Saturday at the church. Arrangements are with the Carlin Funeral Home of Fosston and messages of condolence may be sent at www.carlinfuneral.com. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Lengby Improvement Club or the elementary music program in Plummer, MN.Irene was born in McIntosh, Minnesota on August 4, 1922 to parents Carl and Alpha (Strom) Torgerson. She was baptized at Our Savior's Lutheran Church and graduated from high school in 1940. She attended Bemidji State College and graduated with a two-year elementary teaching degree. She married Maurice R. Ferden on January 9, 1943 and after he went to war, she taught two years at the Lengby two room school house, teaching grades 5-8. After the war she became a housewife and began teaching piano lessons in her home. She taught hundreds of students over about a 60 year span. In 1965 Irene and Maurice moved to Fosston where they lived the rest of their lives. Shortly after this, Irene completed her four year degree and started teaching elementary music in Oklee for 20 years.Irene had a passion for music and touched many lives. She was active in many musical activities around the Fosston area and was deeply involved with music at Kingo Church. She was an accomplished pianist and accompanied many musicians on the piano.She was a charter member of the VFW Auxiliary in McIntosh and the American Legion Auxiliary in Fosston. Irene was a great cook and enjoyed entertaining people in her home. She had a large garden and loved to play cards. Irene loved her God and always gave generously to those in need. She loved spending time with her family and often stressed the importance of good education. Her proudest moments were having all four of her children achieve their college degrees and being named Teacher of the Year in Oklee. She will not be forgotten.She is survived by her son, Maurice Jr. (Ruth); daughters, Pam Hagen (Mars), and Joni Ferden Precht (Bill); grandchildren, Katie Hagen (Pat), Christopher Hagen (Suzanne), Lindsey, Chandler and Madison Precht; great grandchildren, Anja, Nora, Timothy and William. Also survived by sisters, Joyce Wahlin (Joe) and Marilyn Weeding; many nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Maurice; son, Bruce; siblings, Frances and Wallace Torgerson; and niece, Lisa Weeding.Honorary Pallbearers: Lez Ehlke, Ruth Anderson, Mitzi Balstad, Dorothy Mae LePier, Naiwon Chung, and Andea Sather.