Irene Fenno

Irene Fenno, 84, Jamestown, ND, died Friday, October 22, 2010 at Eventide Hi-Acres Manor, Jamestown, ND.

Irene May Martinson was born on December 18, 1925 in St. Lawrence, SD, the daughter of Magnus and Jenny (Pederson) Martinson.

She was raised on the family farm near Berlin, ND. She attended elementary school at Russell Township schoolhouse and two years of high school in Edgeley. Irene learned to cook side-by-side with her mother, sister, and neighbor women for threshing crews. She had many fond memories of the hard work and fun of cooking for these men. One year there was a young man named Maxwell Fenno working on the crew. Max and Irene began dating and were married on October 22, 1942. They moved to several different locales before settling down in Adrian, ND and resided there for 35 years.

Because of her innate skills and dogged determination to master new things, Irene worked many different jobs throughout her life, including setting up and managing her own store in Adrian. In Jamestown Irene tackled managing the Eddy Bakery store, did food service at Big Jim’s Restaurant, Gladstone Select Hotel and Wal-Mart. At the latter she learned how to take computerized tests. Irene retired 3 times before she finally quit working for pay, but retirement for Irene meant volunteering at the Senior Center, Anne Carlsen School, and The Ark to name a few. With her pleasant demeanor and ready smile, Irene was loved by everyone who met her.

Survivors include: Daughters, Janet (Rodney) Larson, Spiritwood, ND; Diane (Lawrence) Peterson, Marion, ND; Sharon (John) Price, Eau Claire, WI; Pamela Bieber, Jamestown, ND; grandchildren: Jeffrey Larson (Katia), Mark Larson (Mary Louise), Kelly Larson (Tammy); Kevin Peterson (Karen), Shelly Kay Peterson, Nicole Rohrbeck (Kelly); Hillary, Heidi and Caleb Price, Trevor Bieber (Kari); Sarah Bieber (Eric Evenson); great grandchildren include Mark Anthony Larson, Parker Larson, Rachel Larson, Dylan Larson, Ashley Larson, Brayden Larson, Forrest Wealot, Dacotah Wealot, Ellery Wealot, Kyrielle Peterson, Rylan Peterson, Litany Peterson, Annie Rohrbeck, Hope Rohrbeck, Tess Rohrbeck, Abigail Bieber, Ella Evenson; 1 great great grandchild Raine Larson.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Maxwell Elton ; a grandson Travis Stroh; one brother, Wendell \""Pete\"" Martinson and one sister, Mayme Nelson.