Avis Fossum

PIERPONT- Avis Fossum, 79 of Pierpont died on Thursday, December 07, 2006 at Strand-Kjorsvig Community Rest Home in Roslyn. Her funeral will be at 10:00A.M. Monday, December 11, 2006 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Pierpont, Paul Kosel S.A.M. will officiate. Burial will be at Homer Cemetery, Pierpont. Visitation will be at Fiksdal Funeral Service in Webster on Sunday 4-8 P.M. The casket will not be open at the church prior to the service on Monday. Avis Marlene Wilcox was born on Thursday, March 17, 1927 to Alvin and Lillian (Jacobson) Wilcox at Northville, South Dakota. When she was a young girl the family moved to Summit where she graduated from high school, upon graduation she was named valedictorian of Roberts County. She then attended Northern Normal in Aberdeen and received her teaching certificate and then taught country schools in the Summit area. In 1948 she married Stanton Hammer at Summit and the couple had four children. After their marriage the couple moved to Pierpont where she taught first and second grade. Mr. Hammer was killed in a construction accident in 1960. After his death she remained in Pierpont. On August 30, 1961 she married Olynn Fossum at Pierpont. After their marriage the couple continued to live in Pierpont where she was a homemaker. The couple had one daughter. The couple wintered in Texas for ten years. In spring 2004 she entered Strand-Kjorsvig Community Rest Home in Roslyn. She was a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Pierpont. The couple were very active in their children’s sports activities. She was an avid letter writer and enjoyed having coffee with friends. Avis passed away on Thursday, December 7, 2006 at Roslyn, South Dakota at the age of 79 years, 8 months and 21 days. Survivors include her husband, Olynn of Pierpont; three sons, Mike (Neila) Hammer of Gainsville, FL, Steve ( Beth) Hammer of Lombard, IL and David (Sheri) Hammer of Wilmot, SD; two daughters, Luan (Duane) Axness of Salem, SD and Carolynn (Brian) Nelson of Bowdle, SD; two brothers, Arnell (Betty) Wilcox of Aberdeen, SD and Elwin (Jeanne) Wilcox of Arkansas; her step-mother, Dorothy Wilcox of Watertown; one step-brother; four step-sisters; nine grandchildren and two great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, her first husband and one sister.