Doris "Dodie" L. Fercho

Doris L. Fercho, 88, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, July 17, 2018 at Villa Maria in Fargo, North Dakota, surrounded by her husband and children. Dodie was born on March 15, 1930 in Fargo. She was the daughter of Dr. G. Arthur Larson and Helen E. Larson.

Dodie graduated from Fargo Central High School in 1947. She graduated from Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri in 1949 and from Richmond Professional Institute, now Virginia Commonwealth University, in Richmond, Virginia, in 1951. She majored in retail merchandising. After graduation, she was employed in the Personnel Department of Woodward & Lothrop Department Store in Washington, D.C.

In 1950, she met Calvin Fercho of Fargo on a double date. Cal and Dodie were married on June 24, 1952 at First Presbyterian Church in Fargo and enjoyed 66 years of marriage. They lived in Chicago for four years while Cal completed his medical training. Dodie worked at Rand McNally in Chicago until the birth of their first child, Jane.

Dodie and Cal returned to Fargo in 1956 and have resided there ever since. They added four more children, Nancy, John, Mary and William, to their family. Dodie was a wonderful wife, mother, homemaker and hostess. She was a constant presence in Cal’s and the children’s lives, always in the kitchen preparing meals and lending an ear to everyone. She was an avid bridge player and enjoyed golf and taking long walks with friends and family.

Dodie spent every summer since 1941 at the family lake cottage on Lake Melissa near Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. She and Cal also enjoyed many winters at their home in Scottsdale, Arizona. She was active in First United Methodist Church in Fargo and enjoyed attending Shoreham Chapel in the summer months. She served as President of the North Dakota State Medical Society Auxiliary in 1974 and was a 70-year member of the P.E.O. Sisterhood, Chapter Y, Fargo. She was a member of the Junior League and gave her time and talents to a variety of philanthropic organizations.

Dodie was preceded in death by her parents, her brother and sister-in law, George and Patricia Larson, and her son-in-law Thomas Ludlow.

She is survived by her loving husband, children Jane Ludlow, Dresher, Pennsylvania; Nancy Undem (Bradley), Bel Air, Maryland; John Fercho, Kindred; Mary Morton, Edina, Minnesota; and William Fercho (Sheri), Fargo. She leaves nine grandchildren, Clark (Jamie) Undem, Andrew (Amelia) Undem, Blair Undem, Jillian Undem, Thomas Ludlow, Jr. (fiancé Alicia LaClair), Catherine (Matthew) McGill, Maxwell Morton, Margaux Morton, and Benjamin Fercho. She also leaves two great-grandchildren, Brooks Undem and Emersyn Undem.

The family would like to thank the staff at Villa Maria for their wonderful care and support.

Memorial donations may be made to First United Methodist Church Endowment Foundation, 906 First Avenue South, Fargo, ND 58103, or Shoreham Chapel, 24263 North Melissa Drive, Detroit Lakes, MN 56501.