Fern Nitz

***Fern's visitation has been POSTPONED for Friday evening. Visitation with the family will be one hour prior to the funeral service from 12:30-1:30 p.m. on Saturday. Funeral service will follow at 1:30 p.m. all at Hudson Lutheran Church.***

Hudson, SD: Fern Nitz, 96, of Hudson, SD, died Tuesday, November 17, 2015 at Sanford Canton-Inwood Hospital in Canton, SD. Funeral service will be Saturday, November 21, 2015 at 1:30 p.m. at Hudson Lutheran Church with Rev. Lori Marty officiating. Burial will follow at Eden Cemetery of rural Hudson. Visitation, with the family present, will be from 6:00-7:00 p.m. Friday, November 20, 2015 at Hudson Lutheran Church with a prayer service following at 7:00 p.m.

Fern Nitz, daughter of Adolf and Carrie Torkelson, was born August 8, 1919 at Hudson, South Dakota. Fern grew up attending school in Hudson where she was elected the first ever Homecoming Queen during her senior year in 1937. Fern was united in marriage with Raymond Nitz on December 29, 1948 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Fern owned and operated Nitz Café and later managed the Hudson Café. She then worked as a caterer with Lorraine Hermanson until retirement. After retirement, Fern stayed busy working at the Hudson Nursing Home. She enjoyed traveling and her greatest memory was made on a trip to Norway at the age of 81. She liked playing cards and going to Grand Falls Casino. One of the best days of Fern’s life was being the Grand Marshall at the Hudson Alumni Homecoming Parade at the age of 95 where she was also the guest of honor at the alumni banquet.

Fern is survived by her two sons, Gary (Cindi) Nitz of Sioux Falls and Dan Nitz of Hudson. She was preceded in death by her parents, Adolf and Carrie Torkelson; husband, Ray Nitz; daughter, Arlie Jo Nitz; two sisters, Nora Richardson and Agnes Lottman; and two brothers, Sidney Torkelson and Merland “Cope” Torkelson.