Fannie Tai Scherling (戴祥真, Xiang Jeng Tai), of Fargo, North Dakota, passed away peacefully on May 3rd, 2026, surrounded by love. She was born on June 3, 1961, in Taipei, Taiwan, and lived a life marked by devotion to her family, strength, creativity, and a deep care for those around her.

Fannie is survived by her husband, Steven Scherling, whom she married on February 2, 1989, and their children, Aaron Scherling and his wife Zahara (Mohamed) Scherling, and Annah Scherling. She is also survived by her family in Taiwan, mother, Chien Kuei Hua, and her siblings, older sister Shu Hwa Tai (Catherine) and her husband Nien Chin Chung, younger brother Chen Ju Tai (Sam) and his wife Tsai Long and younger brother Yu Kuo Tai (Claudius) and his wife Chiu Hue Chen. She was preceded in death by her father, Hui Yang Tai.

Fannie's journey began in Taiwan, where she attended Guo Yu Elementary School and Jing Ling Girl's High School, later continuing her education at Shri Jain College. Not long after, she began traveling the world, living in Beijing and Hong Kong; before finally moving to the United States.

She worked in marketing research at Acer in Taipei, served as an office manager in Hong Kong, and later built a meaningful career in U.S. Bank, where she advanced from a call specialist to a fraud analyst. She frequently received awards for outstanding performance and made countless friends along the way in her 15+ years of employment.

Fannie was deeply rooted in her community and faith. She was a member of the Red River Valley Chinese Christian Church and was baptized on September 13, 2024. Her faith journey began years earlier through Bible studies with Taiwanese students and faculty families at North Dakota State University.

She generously gave her time as a classroom "room mom," a Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts leader, a Girl Scout leader, and volunteering with U.S. Bank. She was a pillar of the Fargo-Moorhead Taiwanese community, taking on the role of a caring big sister to newcomers, as she knew firsthand what it felt like to arrive somewhere new and didn't want others to feel homesick.

Fannie's resilience and spirit were reflected deeply throughout her health journey. After her stroke, she worked tirelessly in therapy while simultaneously stealing the hearts of those around her. Walking through the halls of Sanford, you could always hear her greeting staff by name, their faces instantly lighting up when they saw her. Through chemotherapy and radiation, Fannie continued to meet each challenge with strength and determination. She would often say, "I am a trooper" and "I am a fighter," and she proved both to be true every step of the way.

She found joy in life's simple and meaningful moments-gardening, creating art through oil pastels, painting, drawing, and listening to soft, heartfelt love songs. She had a deep love for travel, thoughtfully curating meaningful trips for her family and creating lasting memories along the way. She was also a stellar cook - frequently hosting hot pot meals for the Taiwanese community and preparing love-filled to-go orders of fried noodles or rice dumplings. She brought people together through food and connection, always making sure people were laughing and their stomachs full.

Fannie loved stories that reflected the human experience, including Tuesdays with Morrie, Fiddler on the Roof, and Gone with the Wind. Of all her memories, time spent with her father and her children remained closest to her heart. Fannie wished to be remembered as a good daughter, sister, and mother. She hoped her family would carry forward a simple but powerful message - "embrace life freely". When asked for a message to her friends and family, she stated without hesitation - "I love them, all my life, close and far."

Private services for Fannie will be held.

Memorials may be left in Fannie's honor to cancer research at the Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center.