FERN RICHARDS

March 16, 1937 - April 11, 2018

Fern Richards of La Crescent, Minnesota, passed away on April 11, 2018, at Valley View Healthcare after spending a love-filled and full day with her family at her side. She was ready to join her husband Dale, her little companion Ellie, and other family members in heaven. Fern was born as she always said on the third month, 16th, 37, to John and Apollonia Thillen. She spent her life farming along side her husband at their farm above Reno, caring for a huge garden, and providing a wonderful home for her family. After the farm was sold, she moved to La Crescent to live with Dawn and Tim. In her 4-H years she excelled at showing sheep and then after she married focused her talent on raising beef cattle. Fern believed in working hard and loving deeply. She will be truly missed. Fern married Dale Richards on September 14, 1957, in Caledonia and raised two children—Dawn (Tim Pattrin) of La Crescent and Dean (Teri) of St. Charles. She had three beautiful granddaughters: Debra (Nic) Fuchsel of Rochester, Sarah (Tom) Conboy of Minnetonka, and Katie (Tim) Stodola of St. Charles. She loved her eight great-grandchildren: Emmit and McKenzie Fuchsel, Tommy and Anna Conboy, and Fiona, Victoria, Layla and JoJo Stodola. Fern is also survived by her sister, Sr. Evelyn Thillen of Rochester. Besides her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by her sisters Lorraine Vick, Esther Felten, Melba Privet, and Carol Schieber, and brothers Valerie and John Thillen. A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 am, Monday April 16, at Church of Crucifixion, LaCrescent, MN. Father Greg Havel will officiate and burial will be in St. Patrick's Cemetery, Brownsville.Visitation will be Sunday, from 4-6 pm at the church with a rosary at 6. Visitation will also be from 10-11 am Monday morning before the service at the church. McCormick Funeral Home, Caledonia is assisting the family