The funeral service for Iola Fern Christensen will be 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, May 13, 2009, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Hayfield with Reverend Paul Hauschild officiating. Interment will be in Fairview Cemetery in Hayfield, MN. Iola Fern Christensen, 89, of Hayfield, MN died on May 9, 2009, at St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester, MN. Iola Fern Staecker was born on April 2, 1920, in Rolfe, IA, the daughter of Charles and Marguerite May (Butts) Staecker. She was united in marriage to John Pershing Christensen on August 22, 1937, in Rutland, IA. Pershing "Perk" died on September 28, 1988. Iola and her husband farmed in Bradgate, IA until December of 1956, when they moved to Hayfield and continued farming. Iola was a waitress in Rochester, Kasson, and Hayfield and worked at Ruffalo Drug in Rochester for 25 years. She enjoyed watching her grandchildren and great grandchildren. For twelve years, Iola would go to the Hayfield Elementary School and listen to children read. She was a member of the Hayfield Senior Citizens, and volunteered at Field Crest Care Center. Iola enjoyed her family, fishing, and watching the Minnesota Twins. Iola is survived by her daughter, Marie (Luverne) Gilbertson, Hayfield, MN; son, Perry (Linda) Christensen, Apopka, FL; 13 grandchildren; 35 great grandchildren; and 26 great-great grandchildren; three sisters, Violet (John) Halback, Olive (Richard) Wilson, and Rose Ann Halback, all of Fort Dodge, IA; and one brother, Truman Staecker, Des Moines, IA. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, one son, two grandsons, one granddaughter, and five sisters. Visitation will be 5:00-8:00 p.m. Tuesday, May 12, 2009, at the Czaplewski Family Funeral Home in Hayfield and one hour before the service at the church on Wednesday. Blessed be her memory.