Fern Parr

 Fern Mildred Sortedahl Parr, 91, passed away of natural causes November 11, 2016 in Grand Forks after a long life. Fern was born in Duluth, Minnesota on May 11, 1925. She was preceded in passing by her parents Olaf and Lillian Sortedahl, originally of Red Lake Falls, Minnesota.Fern is survived by her husband, Thomas R. Parr, Sr.; her sister, Donna (Edward) Clokus, Sandbridge, VA; two sons, Tom "Pepper" (Rhonda) Parr, Indianapolis, IN and Brian (Betsy Hemler) Parr, Grand Forks; seven grandchildren; two great grandsons. Fern graduated from Central High School in Duluth in 1943 and subsequently, in 1947 from the College of St. Scholastic with a degree in Medical Technology. She worked at St Michael's Hospital in Grand Forks, but returned to Duluth to marry her husband on February 18, 1950. They were together for more than 66 years. Fern taught at then Duluth Business University before retiring first to Mesa, AZ and then to Grand Forks.Fern enjoyed a rich life, traveling and hiking particularly in the Canadian and US west. She was keenly interested in sports, especially tennis, though she pulled for the Twins (a couple times successfully) and the Vikings (unsuccessfully) in season. Another joy she had was following the athletic participation of her two sons.Fern insisted that she never napped, though in the last few years, there have been taken some photographic evidence suggesting the contrary.