Fern Ann Halstead

There was a joyous reunion in Heaven Friday, November 19th about 4:00 pm when Fern Ann (Larson) Halstead, age 92 passed away. Besides the heavenly hosts who were there to greet her, she met up with her loving husband of 74 ½ years, Clifford Halstead, her parents; Fred and Ivy (Withers) Larson, her sisters; June (Peterson) Myer, Dorothy (Peterson) Lindquist, Nancy Messer, and brothers Edward and Jack Larson as well as one granddaughter Beverly (Grytdal) Gibbons, and a multitude of ancestors and family. Born in Whatcom County on January 20, 1929 she and her family moved to Mead in the spring of 1945 following the death of her father. While attending school she worked at the Model Café in downtown Spokane and volunteered as a Candy Striper at Deaconess Hospital. After graduating from North Central High school in 1947, she married Cliff and 5 years later they moved on to the home he built on Wellesley where she became a full time homemaker and mother. In 1959, she followed her heart and was baptized in the little Spokane River. Ever faithful, she acted as a deaconess at the Foothills Community Church on Forker Road and for many years she created and supplied floral arrangements for the sanctuary. A feisty little lady with a quirky sense of humor, she retired from Keytronics in the early 1980s, and when not traveling to see her family who were scattered across the world, she enjoyed music, needle work, oil painting, and long walks. She is survived by sisters Caroline Martin of Spokane, Elizabeth Johnson of Deer Park, and brother Freddy Larson of Spokane Valley. Also surviving are her children; Barbara (Steve) Harvey of VA, Gloria (Ron) McGough of CO, Dale (Debby) Halstead of Greenacres, Elizabeth (Roland) Scott of Fruitvale, B.C., Shirley (Greg) Benton of Tacoma, 10 grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren, as well as niece Judy Suits of Greenacres and many other nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to Horizon Hospice of Spokane; 608 E Holland Ave, Spokane, WA 99218. Phone: (509) 473-0895. A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, May 28, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. at Riplinger Funeral Home and Crematory, 4305 N. Division, Spokane, WA. Interment preceded at Pleasant Prairie Cemetery, Spokane, WA.