Fern Kiner

Fern Eunice was born as the youngest of four children to Henry and Clara (Gjestvang) Lien on February 7, 1925 near Pekin, ND. She spent her early years on the family farm and attended a rural elementary school near their farm. She graduated from Lakota High School in 1942, shortly after the US entered WWII. After attending NDSU (referred to as the Agricultural College at that time) and Mayville Teachers College, she taught school in rural Griggs County and later in Hamilton, where she met Earl Kiner. They were married on April 18, 1946 and established their home on a farm east of Hamilton, where they raised their family of three children. For several years they relished playing the role of snowbirds, packing up each fall to migrate to Florida in order to escape the harsh ND winters.

Fern was blessed with a servant’s heart, which she happily put to use serving her family and community. She thrived at the role of being a homemaker as she loved baking, gardening, sewing, crocheting and even writing poetry. She would often be found reading good books or enjoying music, loves of hers which she successfully passed on to her children. The last several years of her life she spent unable to do things for herself, but still maintained a happy and pleasant attitude, accepting the limitations of her walk in life with dignity and grace. Her family attributes this remarkable ability to her steadfast faith in God and His amazing grace displayed through her. She confidently looked forward to the next chapter in her eternal life, not fearful of passing through death’s doorway. She set a high standard for those of us coming along behind and will be greatly missed.

Fern is survived by three children, Keith (Shirley) Kiner of Fort Myers Beach, FL; Kerry (Gary) Gauffin of Mora, MN and Nicki (Marcy) Kiner, of Albuquerque, NM, along with several grandchildren, great grand children and nephews.

Preceding her in death were her husband, Earl; her parents; siblings Clifford Lien, Sidney Lien and Marlys Holth; and a niece and a nephew.

Fern Eunice (Lien) Kiner, 94, of Cavalier, ND passed away on Friday, March 1, 2019 at Wedgewood Manor in Cavalier. Memorial service for Fern will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, June 8, 2019 at the Cavalier Baptist Church. Interment for Fern and Earl will be held at the Cavalier Cemetery immediately following the memorial service.