Irene Caroline Ferden, 97, a St. Charles native, died Sunday, January 3, 2021, at Spring Valley Care Center. Irene was born November 14, 1923, in St. Charles to Gilbert and Ida (Limberg) Ferden. She graduated from St. Charles High School in 1941. Following high school Irene moved to Milwaukee, Wis., to work in the war effort. In Milwaukee Irene worked for National Enameling and Stamping Company, and later Cutler Hammer and Eaton Corporation. In 2014 Irene returned to the area, moving to Preston. She entered Spring Valley Care Center in November 2020.
Irene is survived by a brother, Leland (Jeannie) Ferden of St. Charles; special friend Mary Ellen Morrissey, nieces and nephews Sharon Harrison (Curt) Vreeman of Fountain, Dianne (Roger) Perry of Lanesboro, Janell (Ken) Kraut of Spring Valley, Mary Ferden (Phil) Schneider of Sheldon, Wis., Doug (Karen) Ferden of St. Charles, Richard (Marlis) Ferden of Utica, Larry Ferden of Elgin, Kevin (Dorothy) Ferden of Minnesota City, Debra (John) Rowekamp of Rochester, Margaret Ferden Davis of Rochester, Yvonne Ferden of Issaquah, Wash., Karen Haugen (Allen) of Lanesboro, Rochelle Sorenson of Palm Bay, Fla., and Rochester, Charlene Sorenson (Dennis) Graff of Racine, Jo Anne Smith of Springfield, Oreg., and Mike (Deanna) Sorenson of Kellogg, and many grandnieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, a brother, Gerhard Ferden; and three sisters: Bernice Harrison, Gladys Sorenson and Marrion Wiskow.
Services will be held Saturday, June 5, 2021, 11 a.m. at Calvary Cemetery in St. Charles, with the Reverend Tim Biren of St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church officiating. Please share a memory of Irene at her online quest book, at www.hofffuneral.com.
Cards of sympathy for her family may be mailed to Hoff Funeral Home, P.O. Box 576, St. Charles, Minn. 55972. Memorials are preferred to Seasons Hospice and the donor’s local food shelf.