Fern I. Allison, 84, of Brookings,  died Thursday, Nov. 9, 2017, at the Brookings hospital. 

Funeral services are at 10 a.m. Monday at First United Methodist Church in Brookings. Visitation is from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday, at Rude’s Funeral Home.

 In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to a donation of your choice or the First United Methodist Church Building Fund.

 Fern Irene Peterson was born on Dec. 3, 1932, in Lake Preston, the daughter of Adolph and Anna (Anderson) Peterson. The family moved to Brookings in 1936 and Fern attended country school at District No. 1 and District No. 87 and graduated from Brookings High School in 1950. After graduation, she worked at an insurance company in Brookings. 

She married Lyle Allison on Dec. 31, 1952, in Brookings. The couple moved to the bay area in California while Lyle was in the Navy. Fern and Lyle began farming near Brookings in 1955. They moved to Lyle’s family farm in 1963. Fern raised their children and helped Lyle farm for many years.

Fern enjoyed gardening and then canning it to enjoy all season long. 

She was an excellent baker and was known for her chocolate cake and apple pie. Her family was extremely important to her and she always opened up her home and kitchen table to those dear to her. Fern and Lyle belonged to two neighborhood card clubs and also taught their children and grandchildren how to play cards. Fern was an avid square dancer with her husband, Lyle. They were members of Brookings Circle and Swing Square Dance Club and 061 Camper Dancer Club. They danced several nights a week when they spent their winters in Texas. 

Fern was a member of First United Methodist Church. She served on the funeral committee for 15 years, as well as Hannah Circle and a Hobby (Extension) Club.

 She is survived by her husband of 64 years, Lyle Allison of Brookings; her three children, Anita (Bob) Wells of Brookings, Keith (Betty) Allison of Brookings and Karen (Mike) Engen of Red Wing, Minnesota; four grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; one sister, Lorraine Schwiesow, of Beltsville, Maryland, and many nieces and nephews.

 She was preceded in death by three sisters, Alpha, Rosie and Agnes; seven brothers, Myron, Orville, Martin, Sigurd, Delbert, Adolph and Norman and one sister-in-law, Myrna (Bob) Denholm.

 Condolences may be sent to the family through www.rudesfuneralhome.com.