In appreciation for the many lives she touched.

Fern passed peacefully in her sleep at her home on January 24, 2017, a few days short of the age of 99½ years.  The Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 PM on March 3rd at the First United Methodist Church with a reception to follow at the Meadowlark Country Club.

She was born in 1917 in Petroleum County in a small village named Edwards, 20 miles northwest of Winnett.  Her middle name stemmed from a misspelling of Winnett.  Her parents attempted to homestead on 160 barren acres, but were forced by cold and drought to give up their land and become city folks.  Fern was one of four sisters, and grew up in Great Falls, graduating from Great Falls High in 1935 - she was the oldest surviving graduate.  She did not have the opportunity to go to college, but made up for it by becoming a voracious reader.  She attracted the eye of a young Great Falls lawyer named Alex, with whom she enjoyed 62 years of marriage, until his death in 2003. 

She was an enthusiastic golfer, bowler and bridge player, in her city of Great Falls, where she was a veritable icon.  She played her last competitive bridge game a month before her passing. She was a world traveler and at age 90 traveled through Europe on a river cruise.  At 99 she traveled to Seattle for her sister-in-law’s 100th birthday.  She was a member of PEO for 66 years, and a member of the First Methodist Church for 87 years.  She served on the Board of Directors of the Deaconess Hospital and Rocky Mountain College.  In addition, she played violin in the Great Falls Symphony for many years.  She made generous contributions to the University of Montana Law School, the Great Falls Symphony, Peace Hospice and Sletten Cancer Institute. She also enjoyed all the Broadway plays and concerts that our great city provided.  In addition, she loved watching her grandchildren play sports, the local professional baseball teams, and her beloved Grizzlies. 

Although she lived independently ever since Alex died, she required care in her home over the last several years by a team of professional and loving care-givers, who gave it their all and beyond.  They are Colleen Carter, Wendy Trudell, Marianne McMillan, Diana Albaugh, Suellen Olds, and Vanessa Spiewak.  We salute them all.

Most importantly, she was the matriarch of the Blewett clan, raising three children, Sandy (Larry) Davidson, Zander (Andy) Blewett, and Suzie (Mick) Taleff.  Fern is survived by her three children, grandchildren Anders (Celia) and Drew Blewett, Christopher (Sara), Michael (Magali) and Lindsey (Timmy Jenkins) Taleff, Jeff (Kimber), Eric (Nancy) and John (Tegan) Davidson, in addition to six great grandchildren.  She made significant contributions to a better world and we were all privileged to have her in our lives.  Very simply, she was one of the last of a great generation.  Throughout, Fern displayed class and grace – we will miss her.  

 Service Information