Merle Fairbanks

Merle M. Fairbanks, 81, Callaway, MN, died Saturday, January 25, 2014 at the Frazee Care Center. A private family service is being planned for a later date. Merle Marie Fairbanks was born March 20, 1932 in Detroit Lakes to Andrew and Ruth (Day) Mortenson. She was raised in rural Callaway and is a 1950 graduate of Waubun High School. Merle was united in marriage to Lewis Fairbanks October 9, 1951 in Detroit Lakes. They moved to Kenosha, WI in 1956 and returned to the Mortenson family farm near Callaway in 1969. While in Kenosha, Merle worked as a cook at Carthage College. After their return to Callaway, she was a cook at the Job Corps Camp; Pembina Supper Club in rural Mahnomen, worked for McArthur's Foods in Ogema and cooked at Young Guns Café in Waubun. Lewis died in 1990. Merle enjoyed time with her grand and great grandchildren, sewing, cooking gardening and crocheting. Survivors include four daughters: Michelle (Bruce) Olson of Detroit Lakes, Dawn (Rev. Paul) Larson of Callaway, Sheree Keprios of Bemidji, Dana (Randy) Johnson of Hibbing; three sons: Craig Fairbanks of Montello, WI, Clay (Toni) Fairbanks of Ogema, Leslie (Linda) Fairbanks of Mahnomen, a daughter-in-law: Joy Gilbert of Grand Junction, CO; 24 grandchildren, 44 great-grandchildren, four brothers: Floyd (Laura) Mortenson of Howe, OK, Leslie Mortenson of Clear, AK, Roy Mortenson of Ulen, MN, Bruce Mortenson of Mahnomen, MN; a sister: Helen Taylor of Hawley, MN, a sister-in-law: Betty Mortenson of Mora, MN. She was preceded in death by a son, Kim, a daughter, Denise, a grandson, Seth Larson and a son-in-law, Steven Keprios, her parents, two brothers: Ronald and Allen Mortenson, two sisters: Audrey Hopper and Vida Heisler.

Funeral Home: David Donehower Funeral Home 609 Hwy 10 East Detroit Lakes, MN US 56501

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Previous Events

cemetery
Tuesday, January 28, 2014
Visitation
Tuesday, January 28, 2014
Service
Tuesday, January 28, 2014

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