Iva Cooper Fernen went to be with the lord on October 14, 2025.

Iva was born April 15, 1944 in Rosebud, South Dakota joining her twin sister Ava.  Her parents ranched near Parmelee, South Dakota. In 1952, after her father's passing they moved to Mission, South Dakota. There, she attended elementary school and high school. In 1962, she met the love of her life, Francis (Jim) Fernen. They were married on March 14,1962. To this union was born two children, Eugene and Laura. Iva enjoyed life with many hobbies, reading, quilting, volunteering, and cooking. She loved all children no matter who they were, and she claimed many as grandchildren. Iva worked many jobs; school cafeteria, motels, babysitting, and nursing homes as an activity coordinator. She volunteered many hours with the chapel service at Fort Meade.

She was preceded in death by her husband Francis (Jim) Fernen, both sets of grandparents, father Eugene Cooper, mother Mildred Cooper, brothers Daniel and Tom, and two sisters Ava Grimshaw and Patsy Kindle.

She leaves to mourn her passing, sister Rita Bracha of Rygate, Montana, Sally Hermann of Mission, South Dakota, Janice Adair of Mission, South Dakota, Son, Eugene Fernen of Aberdeen, South Dakota, Daughter, Laura (Jim) White of Sherwood, Arkansas, Grandson, Daniel White of Jacksonville, Arkansas, Granddaughters, Drew Treacy and Kelli Beechy of Portland, Oregon, Great-granddaughter, Quinn Treacy and Great-grandson, Isaiah White, Special friends (like a son and daughter) Dan and Deb Eberly, of New Underwood, South Dakota, Kristi (Nathan) Hovde and her children Shyanna, Skyla, and Jax, Amanda Eberly and her daughter, Sonora, and Lance Eberly and his sons Lane and Wyatt.

Visitation will be held at Osheim-Schmidt Funeral Home of Rapid City, 4-6pm on Monday, October 20. Funeral services will be held at 10:30am on October 21. Interment services will be at Black Hills National Cemetery, Sturgis, South Dakota.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to her favorite charities: Tunnel to Towers www.t2t.org or Wounded Warrior Project www.woundedwarriorproject.org .