- Date Of Birth: October 17, 1924
- Date Of Death: November 13, 2020
- State: Minnesota
Fern Dahlman, 96, of Warren, MN, passed away on Friday morning, November 13, 2020 at North Star Manor in Warren.
Fern Evelyn Bjorgaard was born on October 17, 1924 about seven miles east of Argyle, MN, the 4th child of Oscar and Ethel (Jorgenson) Bjorgaard. She attended country school with her siblings. In 1934, she was diagnosed with osteomyelitis and became sick and spent several winters at the Gillette State Hospital for Crippled Children in St. Paul, MN. Fern met Neil Dahlman in 1941 at Warren High School. The first time she saw Neil, she turned around in her desk and said to her friend Agnes, “Look what just walked in. Some day I am going to marry him.” She graduated from high school in 1943 and married Neil on June 5, 1945. The young couple made their home in Warren area. She worked as a bookkeeper for the family business, Dahlman Trucking and also for Lyle Trudell for several years. She came up with the slogan, “You Call, We Haul” for the family business. In the early years, Fern would also drive truck (she was known for having a pretty heavy foot) for the trucking business until Van was old enough to take over. Neil died on August 30, 2007.
She was an active member of First Lutheran Church where she made many church decorations over the years. Fern was also a Red Hat member.
Fern was a very organized person who loved to re-purpose items (empty toilet paper rolls!!) to use again. She loved to do crafts and always had a project going. Fern enjoyed baking and cooking and was known for her excellent lefsa. In her lifetime, she was able to travel to all 50 states. She made many quilts for her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Fern wrote the following about herself. This is taken word for word from a note she left to her family:
Fussy! Well yes and no. Grandma likes nice things, and when she is in charge, she tries very hard to see that everything is just right. But she does not judge other people by the same rules she uses on herself. What’s that mean?! It means that Grandma loves people as they are. She doesn’t ask for them to change, or do everything her way!
Left to mourn her passing are her son and daughter-in-law, Dean and Joanne Dahlman of Warren, MN; daughter-in-law, Maggie Dahlman of Gilbert, AZ; seven grandchildren; fifteen great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Neil; son, Van Oscar Dahlman; daughter-in-law, Mary Dahlman and siblings, Gladys, Arnold, Harold, Ernie, Lorene and Raymond.
