Fern A. Payson was born September 6, 1916 in Hooker, SD to Christian and Anna (Sand) Osthus. She died August 11, 2013 at the Centerville Care Center at the age of 96 years, 11 months and five days. Fern attended Pleasant Grove country school, Wakonda School for grades 8-9 and graduated from Centerville High School in 1934. She married Delmar Payson on February 19, 1943 at the C. J. Osthus home. Together they raised their children on the family farm. Fern was a great cook and baker; she liked reading and gardening. Following Delmar's death in 1994, Fern moved from the farm into Centerville. In 2008 she moved into the Good Samaritan Home in Centerville. She was a member of the Komstad Covenant Church and active in the church Circle for many years. Fern also belonged to the Covenant Women and served as a president. Her parents, husband, three brothers, Chester, Christian, Jr. and Roy Norman Osthus and four sisters, Gladys Jacobson, SeDell Leslie, Lyda Frinkman and Dagmar Harmon preceded her in death. She is survived by her daughter, Carol Knutson and Harlan of Wakonda, SD; son, Cliff Payson and Beth of Scottsdale, AZ; seven grandchildren, Jeff Knutson, Randy Knutson, Doug (Wendy) Knutson, Stephanie (Tony) O'Toole, Christina Payson, Bill (Melissa) Payson and Dan (Mallory) Payson; ten great-grandchildren, Nathan, Tyler and Amanda Knutson, Logan and Spencer O'Toole, Reno, Carson, Jaycee, Jayda and Nate Knutson; sister-in-law, Lorraine Lounsbery and many nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be 10AM Friday, August 16, 2013 at Komstad Covenant Church, rural Beresford. Visitation will be 2-8PM Thursday at Wass Funeral Home in Centerville with the family present from 5-7PM.