Obituaries
Steven John Fern, 17
Died August 24, 1999Steven John Fern, 17, of River Falls died in an automobile accident Tuesday, Aug. 24, in the town of Kinnickinnic. He was born in Hudson, July 13, 1982, the son of John and Vicki (Heldt) Fern and attended grade school in River Falls. This fall he would have been a junior in River Falls High School. He worked part-time as a mechanic with his uncle after school hours. As an avid sportsman and outdoors person, he enjoyed hunting, fishing, three-wheeling and was a Green Bay Packer fan. Working with mechanics, farming, country music and spending time with cousins and friends were among his other interests. While in middle school in River Falls he was active in playing football and softball and was a member of the Future Farmers of America. Survivors are his parents, John and Vicki Fern, and a sister, Elizabeth Fern, all of River Falls; his maternal grandmother, Patricia Heldt of Lakeland; aunts and uncles, Jeanne and Peder Pedersen of River Falls, Joan Heldt of Lakeland, Donald and Pam Heldt of North Hudson, Ralph and Mary Jane Fern of Howard Lake, Minn., Thomas and Jo Fern of Becker, Minn., Gerald Fern and James Fern, both of Browerville, Minn., Alfred Jr. and Stella Fern, Monticello, Minn., Jeannette and Paul Fisher of Shakopee, Minn., Ronald and Lynn Fern of Corcoran, Minn.; cousins, Tim, Jenny, Brady and Kelsey Pedersen, Angela, Amy and Jill Pedersen, all of River Falls, and Jacob, Savannah, Andrew and Charles Heldt of North Hudson. Preceding him in death were his maternal grandfather, Walter Heldt and his paternal grandparents, Alfred and Loretta Fern. Funeral services were at 11 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 28 at the O'Connell Family Funeral Home in Hudson with the Rev. Thomas Hallsten officiating. Burial was in Lakeview Cemetery in Lakeland where active pallbearers were Danny Laventure, Billy Delander, Dave Givens, Lance Nelson, Kevin Lubich, Josh Elsenpeter, Mike Riech and Josh Kolodzienski. Honorary bearers were Adam Symanietz and Adam McAleavey. Visitation was from 4 to 9 p.m., Friday, Aug. 27 and one hour prior to the service at O'Connells. Memorials are preferred to the family.
Caroline "Torry" Davidson, 94
Died August 22, 1999Caroline F. "Torry" Davidson, 94, a long time resident of Afton, died Sunday, Aug. 22 at her home on May's Lake on Stagecoach Trail. She was born in St. Paul in 1904, the daughter of Charles W. and Kate (Humbird) Farnum. Her maternal grandfather John A. Humbird, a banker and lumberman, and her great-grandfather, Jacob Humbird, who built railroads in Brazil, were both instrumental in constructing and developing the West Wisconsin Railroad that reached Hudson in 1871. John Humbird was also associated with the timber baron, Frederick Weyerhaeuser. Her late husband, William F. Davidson, was a highly successful real estate entrepreneur in the Davidson Company that had been founded by his father, Watson P. Davidson. They owned and managed a number of downtown St. Paul buildings, including the Pioneer, Endicott, Midwest and Griggs-Midway buildings. Caroline Davidson helped found the American Field Service program in St. Paul in the 1950s. Through the years the Davidson family hosted a number of exchange students in their St. Paul home.
William Davidson died Sept. 11, 1982. She was active in the Audubon Society, the Nature Conservancy and the Friends of Belwin, a group dedicated to assisting the Outdoor Educational Laboratory in Afton. Surviving are three daughters, Cynthia D. (C.M.) Bend of Afton, Patricia D. (Pasquale) Spadaveccia of New York and Florence, Italy and Caroline D. (Dutton) Foster of St. Paul and nine grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren and a son-in-law, Stephen W. Tanner. Preceding her in death were her husband, William Davidson on Sept. 11, 1982, and a daughter, Kate Tanner. Memorial services were at 4 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 26 at Unity Unitarian Church in St. Paul where she was a longtime member. Memorials are preferred to the Nature Conservancy or Audubon Society.
Mary Hanna Poulton, 91
Died August 22, 1999Mary Hanna Poulton, 91, a resident at the Walker Methodist Center in Maplewood, Minn., and a former resident of Hudson and Roseville, Minn., died Sunday, Aug. 22. She lived in Hudson from 1947 to 1953 when her husband, Marion F. Poulton, owned the Trieb-Poulton Funeral Home (now the Murphy Funeral Home). She was born in Litchfield, Ill., May 2, 1908, the daughter of Oscar and Nellie Ash. Funeral services were at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 26 at the Roseville Memorial Chapel in Roseville with burial in Roselawn Cemetery. Her husband, Marion, preceded her in death in 1969. Surviving are a son, James M. (Cynthia) Poulton of Anoka, Minn.; a daughter, Ruth Ann (Michael) Stevermer of Cleveland, Tenn.; five grandchildren, Bryce, Kyle, Tere, Erin and Travis; two great-grandchildren, David and Lauren; a brother Elvis (Caddy) Ash of Indiana. She was a member of the Centennial United Methodist Church in Roseville.
Rudolph 'Red' Anderson, 85
Died Aug. 29, 1999Rudolph Elmore Anderson, 85, of Chippewa Falls and formerly of Hudson and New Richmond, died Sunday, Aug. 29 at the Lakeside Nursing and Rehab Center in Chippewa Falls. He was born July 10, 1914, in Hudson, the son of G. Albin and Edith (Peterson) Anderson. He graduated from Hudson High School in 1933. Shortly after graduation he joined the Civilian Conservation Corp. (CCC), a government program designed to pull America out of the Depression. He was assigned to a Milwaukee location where he was injured in an auto accident and suffered a brain injury. He was in and out of psychological institutions until 1941 when he became a permanent resident of the St. Croix County Health Center in New Richmond. He remained there until the spring of 1999 when he was transferred to Lakeside in Chippewa Falls for more one-on-one care. Despite his mental disability, Anderson continued to display the musical talent he developed as a teenager, often playing the piano at church services at the county home. He also participated in many activities at the home including bowling, crafts and social events. He remained a member of Mt. Zion Lutheran Church in Hudson throughout his life. Surviving are sister-in-law Catherine Anderson of Hudson; nephews, Douglas Stohlberg, Paul Anderson, Kevin Anderson, all of Hudson and Ronald Anderson, Amery; nieces Priscilla (Stohlberg) Isaacson, White Bear Lake, Minn. and Darlene (Anderson) Holt, Apple Valley, Minn. Preceding him in death were his parents, brother Leonard "Cab" Anderson in 1978, sister F. Verna (Anderson) Stohlberg in 1995 and an infant sister, Eleanor Anderson. Services were Tuesday, Aug. 31 at Mt. Zion Lutheran with the Rev. Keith Lueneburg officiating. Visitation was one hour prior to the service. Burial was in Willow River Cemetery. Casketbearers were Douglas Stohlberg, Paul Anderson, Kevin Anderson, Ronald Anderson, Ralph Isaacson and David Anderson. Murphy Funeral Home had charge of arrangements.
Lennis O. Simcox, 93
Died August 31, 1999Lennis O. Simcox, 93, of Hudson, died Tuesday, Aug.31 at the Christian Community Home. Surviving are a daughter, Zona (William R.) Kees of Hudson and a son, John Simcox of Minneapolis. Funeral services are at 11 a.m., Friday, Sept. 3 at Bethel Lutheran Church in Hudson with burial in Willow River Cemetery in Hudson. Visitation is from 10 to 11 a.m. Friday prior to the service at the church. The O'Connell Family Funeral Home in Hudson is in charge of arrangements. A complete obituary will be published in next week's issue of the Star-Observer
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