Fern Earlene Miles, 94

Fern Earlene Follin Miles, beloved mother to five children, age 94, of Post Falls, Idaho, passed away Dec. 21, 2025, leaving a void her family cannot fill.  

Fern was born in Sublette, Kan., June 1, 1931, to Elsie Alice (Lindeman) Follin and Earl Cottrell Follin, the youngest of five children, all of whom preceded her in death.   

At the age of 5, Fern relocated with her extended family from western Kansas to northern Idaho, where the family established a farm near Bonners Ferry, Idaho. Fern graduated from Bonners Ferry High School in 1949 and started college at Northern Idaho College of Education, where she met and fell in love with her future husband, William (Bill) Eugene Miles. They were married in 1950 and started a family in Lewiston, Idaho, with the birth of a daughter, Billie, followed one year later by a second daughter, Shelley. Three years later, another little girl, Jeri, was born in Hoquiam, Wash., followed two years later by a son, Jim. Kathy was born in Toledo, Ore., in 1961.

Fern took special joy in the accomplishments of her five children and six grandchildren. Most of all, she cherished the time she got to spend with her twelve great-grandchildren. Fern held a special place in her heart for Ted Wiberg, his wife Joy and their family. Ted lived with Fern and Bill while he was a high school student athlete in Redmond, Ore.  

Fern had fond memories of family get-togethers and vacations in California, Arizona, Oregon, Hawaii, Kansas, Maryland, Maine and many, many trips to Mexico. Fern’s Ireland tour (the home of her ancestors) was an important adventure for her and two of her daughters. A trip to Oklahoma City for the Women’s College World Series, Division I softball, was the frosting on Fern’s birthday cake for one special year! She loved the adventure of travel, but more than the adventure, she loved that it brought opportunity to be with and enjoy her family.

As a child, Fern was adventurous, daring, athletic and just a little bit competitive! She recalled jumping out of the hayloft at a very young age into a hay-filled wagon below (if her older sisters were going to jump, so was she!). Fern remembered that “Daddy told us to always check for pitchforks before jumping.” Sage advice for a daring child.  

As an adult, Fern took up bowling at age 30, an activity designed to give her a well-deserved break from five active children. She bowled for over 50 years, won too many trophies and plaques to count, and made many dear friends! For over 10 years, Fern played slow-pitch softball on a team that included her daughters. She was an accomplished pitcher and team leader. She said it was her greatest joy to play softball with all her girls.

Fern was an accomplished quilter and knitter. She made beautiful and cherished quilts for her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The Christmas stockings she knits are an enduring symbol of her love and brighten the hearths of her extended family.

Fern’s work life includes an accounting firm in Gold Beach, Ore., the school district and federal credit union in Moscow, Idaho, and a bank and accounting firm in Redmond, Ore.

Fern was preceded in death by her husband, Bill Miles, her parents, Elsie and Earl Follin, her siblings, Max, Maxine, Donna, and Beth and her son-in-law, Jeff Grobe; and survived by her children, Billie Grobe, Shelley (Steele) Roberts-Ross, Jeri (Paul) Rainer, Jim (Vicki) Miles and Kathy (Paul) Keliihoomalu; her six grandchildren: Jake (Meghan) Grobe, Jess Rainer, Jeffrey W. (Gretchen) Grobe, Kyle (Lynelle) Rainer, Bill (Michelle) Ross and Allison Roberts-Ross; and 12 great-grandchildren: Jalyn, Adeline, and Elliana (Rainer); Emmett and Clementine (Grobe); Finn, Clare and Mack (Grobe); and Connor, Liam, Brayden and Charlotte (Ross). Fern’s family will never forget the love and joy she brought to their lives.

The family thanks the hospice for the care and support they provided Fern and our family in her final days. A special thanks is gratefully offered to Fern’s bowling friends in Coeur d’Alene, who filled her life with fun and purpose and supported her in countless ways.

A private internment for Fern's family was held at Grandview Cemetery in Bonners Ferry, Idaho, on Dec. 30, 2025. A celebration of life is planned for the spring. To leave a message or memory for the family, go to www.bonnersferryfuneralhome.com. Bonners Ferry Funeral Home is caring for the family.