Florence Flatla

Florence Flatla, 88, Minot, formerly of Velva and Ruso, peacefully went to her Lord, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2014, at Trinity Homes in Minot.

Florence Marie Nelson was born Jan. 13, 1926, the daughter of John G. and Ida C. (Nordstrom) Nelson. After the death of her father, her mother raised Florence and her brothers and sister, ages 6 to 11, on the family farm near Ruso. A tornado took out the Ruso Country School house near their farm, which left Florence with a lifelong fear of storms. She sent her children to the basement many times during tornado season in North Dakota.

She left the 10th grade joining her sister in Longview, Wash., to work in the shipyards. She encouraged her children in their education. She was at every basketball game, choir concert, school and church program and did the same for her grandchildren. She loved her flower garden, but loved the dandelions picked by her grandchildren far more. She listened to “Back to the Bible” while making supper. She enjoyed music and dancing with her children in the kitchen. She collected antiques, enamelware and glass spoon holders. Her family will remember her beautiful handwriting.

Florence married Lawrence Flatla Sept. 19, 1945, in Sidney, Mont. They made their home on the Flatla family farm near Bergen where together they raised their six children and farmed. Florence was always willing to help work on the farm, feeding the animals, driving the tractor or whatever chore needed to be done.

She became a resident of the Memory Care of Edgewood Vista in 2008. Lawrence passed away June 19, 2009. Following her husband’s death, she continued to reside at Edgewood Vista until recently residing at Trinity Homes in Minot. She was a kind person. Even with Alzheimers, her caregivers at Edgewood said she was caring to all the other residents and always had a smile.

She belonged to the Bergen, Hjerdal and Oak Valley Lutheran churches, where she was active with the ladies aid and taught Sunday school. She was active in the Republican Party, the Lake Hester Township Election Board, was a U.S. census service worker and sold Princess House Crystal.

Her greatest joy was her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Lawrence was the love of her life until the end.

Surviving family includes: children, Woodrow Flatla and fiancee Cathy Gibbs, Now Then, Minn., Lynette (Lawren) Wold, Minot, Vincent (Debra) Flatla, Buffalo, Minn., Nancy (Michael) Hartgrove, Winnipeg, Man., Cyndee Williams, Velva, and Rebecca (Keith) Cederstrom, Velva; grandchildren, Stephanie Flatla and fiance Shane Foster, Fargo, Tausha Flatla, Apple Valley, Minn., Christopher (Susan) Wold, London, England, Nathan Wold (Tom Samet), Hamptons, N.Y., Mackenzie (Amy) Noer, Fargo, Dan (Sunny) Flatla, Sterling, Va.; Joshua Flatla, Rockford, Minn., Luke (Jodi) Flatla, London, England, Whitney (Steve) Howe, Grand Forks, Jessica (Ryan) Coy, Winnipeg, Matthew Hartgrove, Winnipeg, Meghann (Dmitriy) Chernyak, Littleton, Colo., Rachael Cederstrom and fiance, Dave Vogel, Minot, Mikel Cederstrom, Minot; great-grandchildren, Anna and Alexander Wold, Cailin, Zoe and Elise Flatla, Luella Flatla, Otto Howe, Nolan and Miles Coy, Samuel Chernyak and Evelyn Vogel; sister-in-law, Mona Kramer, of California; and several nieces and nephews.

Florence was preceded in death by: her parents, John and Ida Nelson; husband, Lawrence; granddaughter, Jennifer Williams; son-in-law, Jerry Williams; great-granddaughter, Olyvia Hartgrove-Coy; sister, Ruth (Kermit) Fadness; brothers, Ernest (Jean) Nelson, Willard (Helen) Nelson and Leslie Nelson.

Funeral: 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 18, at Oak Valley Lutheran Church, Velva.

Interment: Velva Community Cemetery, Velva.

Visitation: 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at Thompson-Larson Funeral Home, Minot.

Family Service: 7 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.

Memorials: are preferred to the Memory Care of Edgewood Vista.

Those wishing to sign the online register and share memories may access the online obituaries section at thompsonlarson.com.