Obituaries

Florence M. Ottum of Stanchfield died suddenly on Saturday July 10th at her home in Nessel Township at the age 79.

Florence was born March 3, 1931, the oldest daughter of Eddie and Grace Ottum.  She attended rural grade schools in Watonwan County.  She was confirmed at the Long Lake Evangelical Lutheran church and graduated from St. James High School in 1948.  Florence received her Bachelor of Science degree in business education from Mankato State College in 1951.  She taught commercial subjects for two years and held numerous typist positions.  She attended graduate school at Colorado State College in Greeley and the University of Colorado in Boulder.

For sixteen years she was employed as a secretary at Longyear Company in Minneapolis.  For another sixteen years she assisted her brother James with his beef cattle and farming operations.  Her special interests were flower gardening, decorating and reading.

Florence was preceded in death by her parents Eddie and Grace Ottum, sister Margaret and brother James.  She is survived by her aunt Violet Gerken, cousins Joane Gerken of Roberts, WI., Barbara Rinne of St. James, Carl Gerken of St. Paul and Ronnie Gerken  of Andover.