Fern Tufte
Oct. 12, 1921 – July 23, 2022
Fern Tufte, 100, of
York, ND passed away Sa-
turday, July 23, 2022 at
Heart of America Medical
Center in Rugby, ND.
Funeral Service will be
held at 11: 00 AM Mon-
day August 8, 2022 at
Leeds Lutheran Church in
Leeds, ND. Visitation will
begin one hour prior to
the service at the church.
Burial will take place at
St. Petri Lutheran Church
Cemetery in rural York.
In lieu of flowers,
memorials are preferred
to the St. Petri Lutheran
Cemetery Fund: 3551 58th
Street NE Rugby, ND
58368. Everyone is wel-
come to stream the fun-
eral service through the
Nelson Funeral Home
Facebook Page.
Fern was born October
12, 1921 to James and Bar-
bara (Rearick) Crum on a
farm in rural York. She
was educated in York and
graduated from York High
School. Fern was united
in marriage to Paul “Ben-
nie” Tufte on June 5,
1949. The couple resided
in York where they
farmed and raised four
children: Paul, Jim, Gary
and Bonnie.
Fern was baptized at
the York Brethren
Church, later becoming a
member of St. Petri
Church rural York until
its closing, and then
becoming a member of the
Leeds Lutheran Church.
She was very active in the
York Legion Auxiliary as
well as the Harlow VFW
Auxiliary. She also was a
member of the Harlow
Homemakers for many
years. Fern was a great
cook and baker. From a
young age, Fern helped in
the cook car during har-
vest and would take the
Model T to bring food to
the men in the field. She
taught her
daughters-in-law how to
cook, and she enjoyed
decorating cakes and bak-
ing donuts for family and
friends. Fern also loved
gardening, especially rais-
ing flowers. At times she
would also provide help
for those who needed
homecare throughout the
area.
Fern is survived by her
sons Paul (Karen), Jim (Di-
ane), Gary (Tammy) all of
York, ND; daughter Bon-
nie Duchscher of Knox,
ND; 9 grandchildren and
15 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in
death by her parents,
James and Barbara Crum;
husband of 55 years, Paul
“Bennie” Tufte;
son-in-law, Carl Duchsch-
er; siblings, Charles Crum,
Ada Crum and Velma
Schmaltz.
Casket Bearers will be
Fern’s grandsons, Eric
Tufte, Ben Tufte, Jason
Duchscher, Shane
Duchscher, Nick
Duchscher and Nathan
Duchscher. Honorary
Casket Bearers will be
Fern’s granddaughters
and great-grandchildren.
Arrangements are with
Nelson Funeral Home of
Leeds, ND.
Online condolences
may be left at thenelsonfuneralhome.com.