Obituary: Ferne Brostrom

Ferne Brostrom

Gaithersburg, Md.

Ferne I. (Zimmerman) Brostrom, 94, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, April 19, 2023, just one day before her 95th birthday.

Born in New Rockford, N.D., "Babe" was the young-est of four children. Despite his severe disabilities, her father was a respected county Judge and Register of Deeds for many years. She grew up helping her parents Albert and Mary Zimmerman, run a local boarding house. Teachers and railroad workers exchanged chickens, vegetables and coal for their room and board. All who passed through town were always welcome to share a meal, regardless of their ability to pay.

Ferne learned the values of kindness and hard work at an early age, working in the local drug store soda fountain, and later as a bookkeeper at the John Deere dealership. After graduating from New Rockford High School, Ferne attended North Dakota Agricultural College (later NDSU) in Fargo, where she met the love of her life on a blind date. Within two years, she married Dale Brostrom, a handsome Navy veteran and NDAC GI Bill student and basketball player.

Dale's career as a Student Union director found them traveling from Fargo, N.D. to Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, and California. Ferne worked at the University of Northern Iowa Library in Cedar Falls, Iowa, Benedictine University in Lisle, Ill., and Amoco Chemicals in Naperville, Ill. to help to fund her children's college educations. Throughout, Ferne was a consummate hostess and excellent cook who enjoyed meeting and socializing with people. In their retirement years, Ferne and Dale enjoyed their travels to Europe, Russia, Africa, Australia, the Panama Canal Zone, Alaska, Hawaii, and throughout the continental United States.

Their final move in 2004 was to Gaithersburg, Maryland, taking up residence in the Parkview community of the Asbury Methodist Village and where they enjoyed many good times and friendships. After Dale's death in 2012, Ferne continued to par-ticipate in many social activities at Asbury. There wasn't a bridge, card or bingo game that she didn't frequently win!

Ferne is survived by her daughter, Nancy Vollertsen (Randall) of Sioux Falls, S.D.; son Kent (Ilene) of Bethesda, Md., sisters-in-law, Betty Zimmerman of St. Paul, Minn. and Betty Vos of Mesa, Ariz.; and many nieces, nephews and friends. She was particularly fortunate to enjoy the companionship and care of many who became a part of her extended family at the end of her life.

Ferne will be inurned with Dale at the Arlington Nation-al Cemetery at a later date. Memorial donations may be made to a charity of the donor's choice or to the Dale Brostrom Endowed Scholarship Fund at NDSU.