Fern Richardson

Fern Richardson, 90, of Webster City, died Tuesday, April 10, 2012 at Crestview Senior Living after residing for ten years among many friends at Crestview Senior Living Apartments. A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, April 21, 2012 at Asbury United Methodist Church, with Rev. Linda Bibb officiating. Visitation will be at the Foster Funeral and Cremation Center from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Friday, April 20. Fern Geneva Branch, daughter of James and Mabel Read Branch, was born August 24, 1921 at Stanhope. She graduated from Stanhope High School in 1938 and Capital City Commercial College in Des Moines in 1940. She married Burt Richardson on November 27, 1941 at St. Thomas Catholic Church parsonage. She was employed as a secretary at Beam Manufacturing Company and later at Arrow-Acme Corporation. Fern and Burt resided in Webster City and on farms in Cass and Freedom Townships. She was a leader in a Cass 4-H club, secretary of the Hamilton County Saddle Club, member of the Webster City Women's Club and several neighborhood clubs and church circles. Fern volunteered at Crestview Senior Living for many years, helping residents with craft projects and card playing. She was a kind and loving wife, mother, sister, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, sister-in-law and friend to many. Her love for people is reflected in the many formal and informal communities and bonds she fostered among friends and family. Fern is survived by children and their spouses, Sue and Jan Halverson of St. Paul, MN; Jim Richardson and Donna Moore of Webster City; Jane and Marvin Montgomery of Denver, CO; seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband of nearly 60 years, Burt Richardson; her parents; sister, Geraldine Urbin; two great-grandchildren, William and Nora Richardson. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to the Stanhope Public Library Foundation, P.O. Box 67, Stanhope, Iowa 50246. Write a personal tribute or light a virtual candle for the Richardson family at www.fosterfuneralandcremation.com