Joan Rae (Steenerson) Fering, a longtime resident of rural East Grand Forks, Minnesota, passed away peacefully on March 24, 2026, at the age of 90.

Joan was born on May 29, 1935, in Garfield Township, Polk County, Minnesota, to Joseph and Julia (Roe) Steenerson, the oldest of three children. She attended grade school in Fertile, Minnesota, and in August 1943 moved with her family to Grand Forks, North Dakota, where she attended Wilder School. She graduated from Central High School in 1953.

In June 1954, Joan married Morris "Glen" Fering at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in East Grand Forks and were blessed with one son, Randall. In October 1962, they purchased a farm in Ester Township, moving there in March 1963. The farm was a very special place for Joan and Glen, their son and their two grandchildren.

Joan dedicated much of her career to serving others. She worked in the farm supply and implement business, spending nearly 20 years with John Deere Implement. After leaving John Deere in 1982, she worked five campaigns in the office at American Crystal Sugar Company. In 1986, Joan began her work with Grand Forks County Social Services as an Eligibility Worker, a role she held until her retirement at age 72. She missed her friends at the county so much that she went back to work a few days a week after her retirement, finally retiring for good at age 75.

During her time with the county, Joan served on the CANA committee and the LIHEAP Advisory Board for the State of North Dakota. She was also a member of NEW and the North Dakota County Social Workers Association. In 2006, she was honored as first runner-up for the Outstanding Senior Worker Award in Minnesota—an achievement she was especially proud to have earned.

Joan was deeply involved in her community. She served 28 years on the Ester Township Board, was an active member of Bethany Lutheran Church, and co-chaired numerous Central High School Class of 1953 reunions.

Joan found great joy in life's simple pleasures and meaningful traditions. She loved fishing trips to the Flathead Valley in western Montana, visiting Minnesota's North Shore, and exploring small towns across the region. Many weekends were spent taking scenic drives and stopping at local cafés for home-cooked meals or a Friday night fish fry. She was a familiar face at VFW Post #3817 in East Grand Forks, where she enjoyed playing bingo, pull tabs, meat raffles, and never passed up a Rum and Coke.

An excellent cook and baker, Joan was known for her homemade apple pies, garden harvest canning, and making donuts with family and friends. She was especially famous for her buttermilk pancakes, even earning recognition in the local newspaper for her recipe.

In her later years, Joan treasured time spent traveling with her "Vacation Babe" friends. Together they visited Las Vegas and Cancun, and enjoyed relaxing getaways to lakes in Alexandria, Brainerd, and Bemidji.

Joan is survived by her brother, James (Joan) Steenerson of Frisco, Texas; her daughter-in-law, Patricia Fering of Eagan, Minnesota; her grandchildren, Melissa (Ryan) Koepp of Stillwater, Minnesota, and David (Heather) Fering of Rogers, Minnesota; and five great-grandchildren, John and Jacob Koepp, Stillwater, MN and Henry, Elva and Adeline Fering, Rogers, MN. She is also survived by several nieces, nephews, cousins and many close friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Jerome; her son, Randall; and her husband, Glen.

Joan will be deeply missed by all who knew her.

A private service will be held this spring to honor Joan's life. The family extends heartfelt thanks to the staff at Valley Senior Living on Columbia and Ethos Hospice for their compassionate care.