Mary Ann Fennern, age 86, of Ada, MN, formerly Twin Valley, MN, died Thursday, July 31, 2014, in Benedictine Care Community, Ada.


Mary Ann Orwald was born May 22, 1928, in Home Lake Township, rural Syre, MN, the daughter of Arthur and Emma (Peterson) Orwald. Growing up she attended country school and later graduated from Twin Valley High School. Shortly after graduation, Mary Ann was united in marriage to Oris Syverson. The couple made their home in the Twin Valley area for a few years before an employment opportunity moved them to Montana. While living in Montana, Oris was tragically killed on the job. A young widowed Mary Ann with her family of five small children moved back to Twin Valley. In 1957, she purchased a home on Pleasant Avenue to raise her family. Mary Ann met Edward "Pete" Fennern and after many months of courtship, the couple married in May of 1964. Together they were blessed with two additional sons and remained in that house until the fall of 2012, when they moved to Bridges Care Community in Ada, MN. After Pete's death on October 20, 2013, Mary Ann remained at Benedictine Care Community until her death.


Mary Ann was a lifelong member of Zion Lutheran Church in Twin Valley. Prior to retirement, she worked at the Twin Valley Nursing Home for 10 years. Over the years, she kept busy with quilting, baking, canning and her interest in birds. Mary Ann had many feeders and birdhouses and took a liking to watching, identifying and feeding all the birds in the neighborhood. She also enjoyed putting jig saw puzzles together, working a word search and collecting Coke memorabilia. Mary Ann and Pete were fortunate as they were able to travel many places including, Alaska, Washington, New Mexico, Florida and Las Vegas, to name a few. In younger years, Mary Ann loved to go dancing and listen to her father, Art, play the fiddle while her mother, Emma, played the piano. As the years went by, family get togethers and visits became a treasured time Mary Ann looked forward to. She will be greatly missed by all her family.


Mary Ann is survived by four daughters: Linda (Leonard) Litzau, Ramsey, MN, Nancy (Jerry) Wermager, Audubon, MN, Kathy (Roland) Johnson, Moorhead, MN, and Patty (Donald) Jensen, Ulen; three sons: Allen (Starlene) Syverson, Twin Valley, Jeffrey Fennern, Twin Valley, and Rodney (Sue) Fennern, Isanti, MN; 11 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Norma Bentley, Bremerton, WA, and Dorothy Miller, Fargo, ND; and several nieces and nephews. In addition to her husbands, Oris and Pete, she was preceded in death by her parents, a grandson, Jamie, and two sisters, Gladys Manning and Beverly Chounard.


A Memorial Service was led by Pastor Gary Lundberg on Monday, August 4, 2014, at 11:00 a.m. at Zion Lutheran Church, Twin Valley. Danette Gwin served as the organist with Sarah Mickelson providing special music. Honorary Urnbearers included all of Mary Ann's Grandchildren and Great-Grandchildren. A Time of Gathering was held Sunday from 3-5 p.m. with a Prayer Service at 4:30 p.m. at the Anderson Family Funeral Home Twin Valley. Inurnment took place at Strand Cemetery, rural Gary, MN.