Fern Helen Lanctot

Houghton: Fern Helen Lanctot, 90, a longtime resident of Houghton, passed away on Monday, March 23, 2026 at PortagePointe in Hancock.

She was born on January 7, 1936 in Lead, South Dakota to the late Rudolph and Helen (Johnson) Prach. She and her family moved to Calumet when she was young, where she graduated from Calumet High School. As a young woman, she worked as a telephone operator for Michigan Bell Telephone. Much of her life was devoted to being a loving wife and mother. Family was everything to her, and she enjoyed traveling to see extended family members whenever she could.

Fern was married to Leo Lanctot of Tamarack City on October 11, 1958. He preceded her in death in 2003.

She was a member of Saint Ignatius Loyola Catholic Church of Houghton. She liked music, especially Christmas Carols and songs by Elvis Presley.

Besides her parents and husband, she was also preceded in death by a son, David; 2 grandsons, Tyler and Zachary; and 2 brothers, Kenneth and Dennis.

She is survived by 3 sons: Leo (Becky) of South Lyon, MI, Dennis (Karen) of Houghton, and Christopher (Phyllis) of Painesdale; grandchildren: Chad, Dylan (Tessa), Nicholas (Kali), Megyn (Preston), Adam (Heidi), Ryan, Fawn, and Allen; 11 great-grandchildren; a brother, Francis (Bonnie) Prach; 2 sisters: Judy (Jack) Logomarsino and Carolyn (Rodney) Peters; a sister-in-law, Peggy Lanctot; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

The O'Neill-Dennis Funeral Home of Hancock is assisting with the arrangements and graveside services are scheduled for this spring at the family lot in Forest Hill Cemetery of Houghton. 

To leave online condolences for her family, please go to www.oneilldennisfh.com.

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