Mabel Fernen, 94, of Winner, SD passed away on Wednesday, August 7, 2024 at the Winner Regional Long Term Care Center in Winner, SD.  Funeral service will be held on Tuesday, August 13th, 2024 at 10:00AM at the Mason Funeral Home in Winner, SD.  Burial will follow in the Trinity Episcopal Cemetery in Mission, SD.  Visitation will be held one hour prior to funeral service.

Mabel was born on March 19th, 1930, to Leonard and Emily "Emma" (Fuchs) Fernen in Lynch, Nebraska. She was the youngest of the six siblings, five sisters and a brother. The family later moved to Mission, South Dakota where Mabel and her five siblings were raised. Mabel grew up on the farm. Attending grade school in Mission until she was eleven, when she was admitted to Redfield State Hospital and School. She lived there most of her teen and early adult life until July 1982, when she moved to Winner, South Dakota where she found a new home with Community Connections Inc. There she made many new friends and was able to spend time with her three sisters. Although unable to hear or speak, Mabel found ways to communicate with her family, friends, and staff at Community Connections and the Nursing Home. She had an infectious smile and a cute but ornery grin.  But she had a stubborn streak too if she didn't get what she wanted!

She loved working on crafts and looked forward to having her hair and nails done. She also enjoyed out of town outings to the corn palace and Doll Museum in Mitchell and the Black Hills along with visiting family in Iowa and Nebraska

She was a member of the Winner Church of Nazarene where she attended for over 30 years with her sisters. Although she could not hear the music, she enjoyed being around the people. She especially enjoyed potlucks where she could eat to her heart's content.

Mabel was preceded in death by her parents Leonard and Emily, her brother Wayne, and sisters Pearl, Evelyn, Ruby, and Esther.