Fern Adaline (Tracy) Forsythe was born on February 26, 1935 just west of Haigler, NE and died peacefully at home on August 13, 2025.  She was welcomed by parents Harvey and Evaleen (Stamm) Tracy and older sister Ellen.  The little family was completed when Fern's younger brother Rex was born on her second birthday.

Fern spent her first four years of school at Grandview school in Kansas.  After her parents bought a farm, north of Haigler, NE, she began attending school in Haigler.  She spent two years at the Haigler school before switching to Dist. 43 country school.  When the schools consolidated it was back to Haigler where she graduated in 1954.  When she wasn't helping on the farm, Fern enjoyed playing ping-pong, volleyball, and softball.

In 1955, on her twentieth birthday, Fern met the love of her life Walter W. Forsythe.  They were married on August 5, 1956 at the Methodist Church in Haigler, NE.  They were blessed with four daughters; Amelia, Connie, Bernice, and Dixie.

During the early years of their marriage Walter and Fern lived in Denver, CO; Hudson, CO; Haigler, NE; and Kansas City; MO before returning to St. Francis, KS for good in 1960.  Fern enjoyed growing a big garden, canning whatever she could, and made most of the clothes for the family.

In 1964 they were able to buy Walter's family farm, where they worked side by side to start a dairy.  It was also in 1964 that Fern accepted Jesus Christ as her savior and was baptized.

In 1966 Fern became the first female school bus driver in St. Francis, driving the bus for thirty-three years.  After retiring, her and Walter built their current house together and enjoyed traveling.  In her spare time, she enjoyed making quilts that she lovingly passed along to friends and family.

Fern was preceded in death by her husband, Walter, of 58 years; parents, Harvey and Evaleen Tracy; sister and brother-in-law Ellen and Fred Sieders; brother Rex Tracy; Nephew Thomas Sieders; and son-in-law Tom Kirk.

She leaves to mourn her children, Amelia (Eddie) Zuege; Connie Kirk and friend Dan Winston; Bernice (Ron) Wieck; Dixie (Joe) Kliesen.  Grandchildren, Shanda (Gabe) Williams; Trevor (Heather) Henderson; Chenoa (Matt) McLain; Lee Stasser and friend Dana Moraniec; Cole Wieck; Chaisley Wieck; Reegan (Ashten) Kliesen; Taige Kliesen; Jarrett Kliesen; Makiah Kliesen.  Great Grandchildren, Tate, Treven, Thane, and Telia Williams; Alyssa Helpingstein; Lola Hipp; Everett and Addison McLain; Jaxten and Kaysen Kliesen.  Sister-in-law Beverly Tracy; brother-in-law and sister-in-law Harvey and Carol Forsythe, sister-in-law Deanna Forsythe, along with many nieces and nephews.

Funeral service will be held Saturday, August 16, 2025 at 10:30 am at the First Christian Church in St. Francis, KS.