Barbara Ann "Barbie" Ferch

BARBARA ANN “BARBIE” FERCH, age 66 of Waterville, passed away on Tuesday, March 19, 2013 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester.

Born in Waseca on October 31, 1946, Barbie was the daughter of Edward Gust and Viola Lillian (Nickels) Ferch.  She was baptized and confirmed at the Evangelical United Brethren Church in Waterville.  As a young woman she attended school in Waterville and graduated from Waterville High School in 1965.  Following her schooling, she moved to Waseca and worked for the E.F. Johnson Company.  In September 1978 she married Russell Carlson in St. Paul.  Together they made their home in the cities and Barbie went to work for ARC of Hennepin County.  It was during their time in the cities that Barbie’s pride and joy, her daughter Krysten, was born.  Barbie and Russell later divorced.  Barbie moved back to Waseca in 1995 and worked at Econo Foods and at Hy-Vee until retiring in 2009.  She loved cats, cooking and watching cooking shows, following the Minnesota Vikings, watching Tony Stewart in Nascar races, eating bullheads during Waterville’s Bullhead Days, and spending time with her family.  She has been a member of the Evangelical United Methodist Church in Waterville for many years, and recently enjoyed being active at the Waterville Good Samaritan Center with the baking group and prayer chain.

Barbie is survived by one daughter, Krysten (Daylan) Callahan of St. Paul; her mother, Viola Ferch of Waterville; four siblings, Brian Ferch of Waterville, Dennis Ferch and his partner David McShannock of Mancos, CO, Teresa Ferch of Waterville, and Bradley Ferch of Waterville; one aunt, Evelyn Kopachek of Mankato; and cousins Steve and Amy Kopachek of Pemberton, as well as Anton, Ehlers, and Tacheny Families; special friends Lynn and Craig Connors; and many special friends from the Waterville Good Samaritan Center.  She was preceded in death by her father; her paternal and maternal grandparents; and several aunts, uncles, and cousins.

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