Florence Happke

Florence Happke 97 year-old resident of Pierz, MN passed away Monday, November 26, 2012 at Meadow Ponds Assisted Living in Pierz, MN. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Saturday, December 1, 2012 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Pierz, MN with Father Kenneth Popp officiating. Burial will be take place in St. Mathias Parish Cemetery in St. Mathias, MN. Friends may call from 9-10:30 A.M. on Saturday at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Pierz, MN. Funeral arrangements are with the Shelley-Virnig Funeral Chapel in Pierz, MN. Florence was born on January 8, 1915 in Brainerd, MN to the late Elmer and Laura (Bock) Tollefson. She grew up and attended school in the Brainerd area. After graduation Florence attended St. Cloud Teachers College where she obtained her teachers certificate. She was united in marriage to Emil Bossus on June 18, 1935 in St. Mathias, MN and was later united in marriage to George Happke on June 9, 1962 at St. Francis Catholic Church in Brainerd, MN. Florence worked all her life as a teacher, mostly teaching 4th grade in Brainerd, Baxter, St. Mathias, and St. Joseph’s Catholic School in Pierz, MN. In her spare time she enjoyed gardening, reading, and was a wonderful writer of letters and poems, always with beautiful penmanship. Florence loved entertaining friends and family and her table and home was always decorated with class. She never judged or had a bad word to say about anyone. Florence was a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Pierz, and a member of the Christian Mothers. Florence is survived by children, Bob (Shirley) Happke of Pierz, MN, Alvin Happke of Mahtomedi, MN, Sylvia Kruschek of Little Falls, MN, Renee (Larry) Litke of Harding, MN, David (Jean) Happke of Park Rapids, MN, Marie (Marn) Flicker of Grand Rapids, MN, and Bea (Collin) Gau of St. Cloud, MN; son-in-law, Edward Bohrer of St. Paul, MN; siblings, Dorothy Medick of Omaha, NE, Edith (George) Hendricks of Champaign, IL, and Don (Joan) Tollefson of Brainerd, MN; 29 grandchildren and many great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren. Florence was preceded in death by, husbands, Emil Bossus and George Happke; daughter, Barbara Bohrer; brothers, Bob Tollefson, Mervin ‘Bud’ Tollefson, and Raymond Tollefson; grandchildren, Brandon Happke, Barbara McGreevy, and Edward Bohrer Jr.

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Florence Happke

January 8, 1915 - November 26, 2012