FERN E. BALLARD, 92, of Cherokee, Iowa, passed away Wednesday morning, February 18, 2015 in the Cherokee Villa Nursing & Rehab Center.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, February 28th, at 1 p.m. at the Boothby Funeral Home in Cherokee. Rev. Ethan Sayler will officiate. Burial will be in the Oak Hill Cemetery at Cherokee, Iowa. Visitation will be on Saturday from 12 noon until service time with the family present at that time. Online condolences can be left at www.boothbyfuneral.com

Fern was born on October 24, 1922 at Battle Creek, Iowa to Chris & Celia (Fugslang) Lorenzen. She was married to Lloyd Ballard on May 29, 1945 at Ida Grove, Iowa. She had lived in Cherokee since 1945 and prior to this had lived in Washta, Iowa and was originally from Battle Creek, Iowa. She was a member of the Memorial Presbyterian Church, had served on the funeral committee and had been a Boy Scout Leader. Fern enjoyed embroidery, baking, gardening and quilting.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Lloyd on September 26, 1999, 3 sisters Vivian Tolle, Betty Florke and Dorothy Beaudette, 3 brothers Burdette ,Matt and Bill Lorenzen.

She is survived by her two children: Dennis Ballard and his wife Susan of Urbandale, Iowa; Sheri Bjork and her husband Russell of Center Point, Iowa; 7 grandchildren; 7 great grandchildren; one sister: Marge Rupp and her husband Del of Long Beach, California; also several nieces and nephews.