Florence Genevieve Root

Florence Genevieve Root, the 10th child of Swan and Amanda Vigert Olson, was born February 4, 1916, near Ayrshire, IA. She grew up on the farm, receiving her education in the area, and graduating with the class of 1933 at Silver Lake High School. On January 6, 1937, in Sioux Falls, SD, Florence was united in marriage to Raymond J. Root of Ruthven, IA. To this union three children were born. Florence and Ray farmed in Iowa and Minnesota for 15 years, then moved to Oregon, and later to California where they resided for 30 years, working at various jobs and running their own hardware store for several years prior to returning to Iowa in 1980. Florence loved music, working with flowers, sewing and quilting, making many items for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and others over the years. Little children were a special delight for her, and she was well loved by them in return. Her family was her great joy, and over the years the wooden hutch that her husband had built for her was overflowing with pictures and cards from her loves ones. In addition to her children, Roger, Elaine and Harlan, she happily welcomed each of their spouses, 7 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. Sunset Apartments in Spencer and Riverview Terrace Assisted Living became home to her in later years. Florence passed away very peacefully surrounded by her family and her pastor on June 14, 2013. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband in 1996, 5 brothers: Axel, Carl, Ted, Harold and Russell Olson, and 4 sisters: Ellen Ricklefs, Anna Dyer, Daisy Peterson and Mildred Olson. She is survived by her children, Roger Root and wife, Bettye of Tucson, AZ, Elaine Crew and husband, Roger of Spencer, IA, Harlan Root and wife, Sharon of Spencer, IA; 7 grandchildren, Valerie Tulip (Bill) of Panama City, FL, David Root (Shelley) of Grass Valley, CA, Kellie Burns of Spencer, IA, D. Susan Chargin (David) of Tucson, AZ, Steven Crew (Jennifer) of Sioux City, IA Michelle Holste of Spencer, IA and Michael Root (Lauren) of Omaha, NE; 14 great-grandchildren, and many other relatives and friends. Florence was a very kind and loving person to all, and she was always ready to acknowledge her faith in Jesus Christ, her Savior and her hope in glory. Her memory will be treasured by all who knew and loved her.

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