Florence Althen

Florence Althen


Dates

February 11, 1922 - December 25, 2021

Obituary

Florence Althen, 99, of Woonsocket, formerly of Mt. Vernon SD, passed peacefully into God’s arms early Christmas morning Saturday, December 25, 2021, at Prairie View Healthcare Center in Woonsocket. Arrangements by Bittner Funeral Chapel.

Florence Millie Althen was born February 11, 1922 in Mitchell, SD to Casper Leroy and Millie (King) Althen, she was nearly 100!

Florence was always curious, witty, and spoke easily to friends, acquaintances, and people she met on her travels, or anywhere! She had a take-charge attitude and liked helping others solve problems and learn. She chose teaching as a profession after first thinking she wanted to be a doctor, having enjoyed spending time helping as a teen volunteering with the country doctor, going on house visits.

Her heart was set on helping others, driven by curiosity, positivity, and empathy for people and animals alike. As much as she enjoyed knitting, crocheting, sewing, cooking, traveling, etc. she preferred to spend time outdoors, especially eager to learn and help her father on the farm.

Growing up and walking the three mile round trip to her one-room schoolhouse, Jacobson Aurora County School, with her sister was an adventure! Nearby Leets one room school house, the school was moved to her friend Richard Christopher’s farm, where it was set up as a private museum. Later, it was taken down board by board and donated to a town in Norway. Florence enjoyed donating several of her old school books, helping with the numbering of boards, and chatting with folks on the project about local history.

Florence was an excellent, vivacious student, graduating from Mt. Vernon High School and later Dakota Wesleyan University with honors receiving a BA in Economics and Business Administration in 1945. Florence was crowned Miss Wesleyan in the fall of 1943. From the fall of 1929 through the fall of 1949, Miss Wesleyans reigned over homecoming (Blue & White Day) events.

Being named Miss Wesleyan is the highest honor bestowed on a Dakota Wesleyan University (DWU) student. It’s the oldest continuing honor, having begun in 1929. So that indicates the high regard that students and the campus community had for Florence.

After graduation at DWU, she taught business and typing classes for several years at Mitchell High School. Florence enjoyed high schoolers, believing in each unique individual. She enjoyed supervising the group of high school students who helped with the Corn Palace Festival September Days. Later, Florence moved to Eugene, Oregon to teach at South Eugene High School, and be near her sister Helen and family in Corvallis, OR. Later she taught at N. Eugene High School. During several summers, Florence would continue her studies traveling for college credit to such places as Alaska, S. America, and Africa. Florence earned her Master’s Degree from Oregon State University. Every summer would also include home to the farm, eventually retiring from teaching in the mid 70’s to move back to South Dakota to care for her father and help manage the farm and also was a bookkeeper for hire. Florence loved being at home on the farm. She commented often there is no other place she’d rather be than in South Dakota, on the farm. A daily joy, was coffee particularly, when shared with friends sitting in the sunshine on her porch.

Retirement spurred an interest in genealogy and researching. She was a long-time member of the Order of Eastern Star and two retired teaching groups.

Florence would return yearly to Corvallis to visit family and also her retired teacher friends in Eugene. Former students in both states delighted in recognizing her and taking time to visit.

Her joy and appreciation and gratitude of every year of life continued to the end. She could always be found with a smile and a hopeful, sunny disposition. With her positive spirit even through pain, she commented many times, “Let’s see what tomorrow brings.”

Florence, beloved “Aunt Fan”, is survived by niece, Laurie; nephews, Jeffrey, Curtis, their spouses, and Brad King; grandniece, Courtney; grandnephews, Kyle, Liam, Justin and Ryan and their families in Oregon; her cousin Nelle, 103! of Mitchell; and Canadian relatives.

Florence was preceded in death by her parents, Casper and Millie, an infant brother, Carl, and younger sister, Helen.

Cards of remembrance may be sent to The King Family, care of Bittner Funeral Chapel, 805 W Havens Ave, Mitchell, SD 57301. Let’s see what tomorrow brings.





Posted by Robin Bierle on January 12, 2022
Florence was my mother Violets cousin. I always admired her spunk and how kind she was to my mother as well as to me. Rest In Peace.
Posted by Maxine Schroeder on December 30, 2021
I got to know Florence when I worked in the courthouse, always enjoyed visiting with her and after we discovered we shared the same birthday always appreciated the happy birthday phone call from her. She was a very sweet lady, may she RIP.
Posted by Julie Greenway on December 28, 2021
So very sad to lose my lifelong neighbor and friend.
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