Fern Kabanuk, 87, Chandler, AZ, formerly of Minot, ND, died peacefully in her sleep June 17, 2026, in an assisted living facility in Chandler, AZ.

Fern Loraine Johnson was born June 13, 1939, on the family farm in rural Glenburn, ND. She was the eldest child of Dale and Nina (Smith) Johnson. She attended school through the eighth grade in a one room schoolhouse in Van Buren township near her home. She then went to high school in Carpio, ND graduating in 1957.

After graduation she worked for a summer in Mount Rushmore, SD then came back to Minot, ND and worked in dietary at Trinity Hospital. She met Raymond Kabanuk from Minot, and they were married on August 10, 1960. After her first child Karla was born, she left Trinity and was a stay-at-home Mom, raising her growing family of eventually 5 children.

Fern loved to garden and had many big flower and vegetable gardens canning and freezing many quarts of vegetables and pickles over the years. After her divorce Fern and her youngest daughter Diann moved to Arizona in 1987 where she had since lived. Fern just said she wanted to live someplace warm and she got her wish. While in Arizona Fern worked as a hotel housekeeper and did babysitting for her granddaughter Perry and great granddaughter Grey. Although she traveled back to North Dakota many times she could never be convinced to move back where it was so cold and windy.

Fern is survived by her children: Karla Haugenoe of Minot, Darren (Jeanine) Kabanuk of Burlington, Denell Johnson of Minot, Duane Kabanuk of Minot and Diann King of Chandler, AZ. She is also survived by her grandchildren: Rebecca (Shawn) Taylor and their children Katelynn Taylor, Collin Abernathey, Gwendolyn Taylor, and baby Taylor due in October, Aaron Kabanuk, Derek Kabanuk, Samantha (Chris) Willoughby and their children Adell, Paisley, Hank, and Blayke, Levi (Cali) Hanson and their children Mckenna and Hunter, Leah Johnson, Amy Johnson, Robbie Johnson, Adelina Kabanuk, Perry (Jason) Stow and their children Grey Ward, Lily Beardslee, Penelope and Iris Stow, Brother Larry (Deb) Johnson of Star Valley Ranch WY. Several cousins, nieces and nephews also survive her.

She was preceded in death by her parents, sisters Shirley Storbeck and her husband Dick, Patricia Larson, brother-in-law Jim Larson, niece Tracy Larson and grandson Ryan Fontaine.

Memorial Service: 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, June 24, 2026, at the Thomas Funeral Home in Minot. To view a recording of the service, available June 25th, access https://www.mtmsales.net/thomas 

Per Fern’s wishes she was cremated and her final resting place will be at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Minot, ND at a later date.

Memorials may be given in memory of Fern to the organization of the donor’s choice.