Ferne L. Schultz

Ferne L. Schultz, age 93, of Grants Pass, died Tuesday, October 1, 2013 at Heritage House.

A funeral service will be at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, October 5, 2013 at Hull & Hull Chapel with Pastor Dennis Webber officiating. Mausoleum entombment will be at Hawthorne Memorial Gardens. Hull & Hull Funeral Directors are in charge of arrangements.

She was born Ferne Louise Alberts August 22, 1920 in West Concord, Minnesota to Arnold & Louise (Buchs) Alberts the oldest of 10 children. She grew up and attended school in Dodge County, Minnesota. As a teenager she worked for the Roach family who owned cheese factories in Pine Island, Minnesota. During this time she met her future husband, Donald Schultz and they were later married on August 28, 1940 at her parent’s farmhouse. In August 2013 they celebrated their 73rd wedding anniversary. Together they farmed in Minnesota until moving to Springfield, Oregon in 1956. After living in Springfield for ten years, the family moved to Grants Pass. She was a homemaker and raised her three daughters before going to work at Golden Rule Department Store for 17 years.

Ferne was a member of Parkway Christian Center. In her early years she was active in women’s ministries including sewing quilts and comforters.

Ferne was the classic homemaker and enjoyed cooking, cleaning, baking, sewing, and crocheting especially afghans for her large family.

She is survived by her husband, Donald J. Schultz; two daughters, Diane Hull and husband Fred and Judy Samuelson and husband Rick all of Grants Pass, Oregon; her son-in-law, Burt Watson of Springfield, Oregon; four sisters, Klyda Jean Sander of Greenville, Ohio, Janet Collins of Wasilla, Alaska, Rita Marks of Astoria, Oregon, and Nila Toftdahl of Sweet Home, Oregon; and two brothers, Everett Alberts of Eugene, Oregon and Daryl Alberts of Springfield, Oregon; seven grandchildren, Mark Watson, Kirk Hull, Kendra Johnson, Cristen Gonzalez, Greg Contreras, Rick Samuelson; 18 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Ferne was preceded in death by her daughter, Rowene Watson on January 20, 2013; her granddaughter, Brenda Holt on July 9, 1990; a brother, Arlen Alberts; and two infant brothers.