"I was so sorry to hear of Mrs. Thronson's passing. I have fond memories of the class play "Penny" which she directed. It was the first musical Houston High School presented. Three years ago I saw her at the Valley View Nursing Home and had a chance to chat with her while visiting my mom. She always was so interested in her former students and wanted to know what they were doing now. She will be missed."
In loving memory of
Florence J. Thronson
September 22, 1935 - March 22, 2009
HOUSTON, MINN. - Florence J. Thronson died Sunday, March 22, 2009 in St. Paul, MN at the home of her daughter after a short hospice stay. Florence was born on September 22, 1935 in Boscobel, WI to Irma (Heins) and Ernest Johnson. She grew up on the family farm on Sunny Ridge near Mount Zion, WI. Florence was confirmed at Luther Memorial Church in Gays Mills, WI.
Florence spent her elementary school years in a one-room schoolhouse near her family's farm. A proficient student, she was only 16 years old when she graduated from Gays Mills High School in 1952. She graduated from the Wisconsin State College, LaCrosse (now UW-L). with an English teaching degree in 1956. She supported herself through college by working as a waitress, a maid, a nanny in Minocqua and Milwaukee during the summers. Her first job as a teacher brought her to Houston, Minnesota in the fall of 1956 when she was just twenty years old.
In Houston, Florence met a local boy, Daniel Thronson. They were married on August 2, 1958 at St. John's Lutheran Church in Boscobel. Daniel worked for the Minnesota Department of Transportation until his retirement in 1984. Florence stopped teaching after the birth of their daughter, Jodean, in 1964, however, she loved staying in touch with her former students, including those who participated in the speech competitions she coached and the one-act plays she directed in Houston.
Florence's strong faith and her love of learning were her basis for community service. She was an active member of the Cross of Christ Lutheran Church in Houston for over forty years. She was a member of the church council, president of the women's group, Bible study circle member, and Sunday school teacher. Florence helped to establish the church library and later served on the board of the Houston Public Library.
Daniel died in July 1994. Florence continued her life in Houston with her many friends. She especially enjoyed the company of her sisters in law. Her greatest joy was being a grandmother to her "special little girls," Isabel and Noelle. The three of them shared a special bond.
Florence is survived by her daughter Jody, her favorite son-in-law John and their daughters Isabel (age 10) and Noelle (age 8) of St. Paul; her sisters - Carol Wallin of Boscobel, WI; Dorothy (LeRoy) Lathrop of Fullerton, CA; and Marilyn (Bill) Holliday of Boscobel, WI; her brothers - Raymond (Phyllis) Johnson of Portage, WI and Eldon (Doris) Johnson of Baraboo WI; her sisters-in-law - Audrey Engrav, Marjorie Poppe and Lylah (Harold) Cruze of Houston and Norma Muenkel of Kasson, MN. Florence was a proud aunt of many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Daniel and her parents.
There will be a memorial service for Florence at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 28, at Cross of Christ Lutheran Church in Houston with the Rev. Louise Stromberg officiating. Burial will be in the Stone Church Cemetery in Houston. Friends may call from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Friday at Hoff Funeral Homes - Houston Chapel, and one hour prior to the service on Saturday at the church.
Please leave a memory of Florence and sign her online guestbook at www.hofffuneral.com
Tribute video can be found at: http://videos.lifetributes.com/60219
Tributes
"Although it was't often that I got see Aunt Florence because of our geographical distance, I loved it when I was back home and she would come down for "coffee time". She would always make us laugh. Jodi - you and your family are in our thoughts and prayers."
"I graduted 1958. I remember Fol from english class and the jr and sr class plays.I enjoyed being one of her students very much."
"I worked with Flo at The Company Store, and fondly remember her as my Grandmother away from home. She had a wonderful sense of humor and her laugh was priceless! When we had pot lucks, Flo always out did herself. I have a collection of her recipes that she shared and came across her Pistaccio Bars recipe just 2 weeks ago. One thing Ive always remembered was the immense love she had for her family. She was so proud of Jodi. And the photo tribute shows the same for her grand daughters! May God Bless and give you Peace at this dificult time. Heaven has a very special Angel!"
"Aunt Florence was a true original! She had a great sense of humor and such an interest in the world around her. My condolances,Jodi, to you and your family. I will miss her."
"In my employment years, I always thanked Miss Johnson (as I knew her) everytime I had to compose a letter or document, etc. I wasn't a genius at grammer but usually better than anyone else in the office!! I owe my basic knowledge to Miss Johnson as she really inspired me and for two years, English was my favorite subject. My heart goes out to family and friends of this very special teacher in my life. Phyllis (Holliday) Duray"
"I think this was a stand in teacher a few times at hokah public school in hokah..anyway what a beautiful person she was. what a special person she was she made me feel like really wanting to go to school and so sweet always had a smile as you approched her for a question e.t.c. God be with her and her family. They will love her in heaven in sure! Thanks for making a school day special for me and others! Marlys (johnson) Kraemer."
"I got to spend some time getting to know Florence while she was a resident at Valley View Nursing Home. I enjoyed her company and I was always happy to see her when she got to feeling better and was having coffee hour and visiting with her friends. She will be sadly missed. I enjoyed stories of her granddaughters. She looked forward to the visits with her family."
"I also had the pleasure of knowing and working with Flo at The Company Store in those years so long ago. She was such a wonderful person with a very happy heart. I will treasure my memories of her and her frequent smile and always having a cheerful hello to those that passed by."
"When I think of Florence I fondly remember her Golfing in Tuesday ladies league, Reading many, many books and knowing the English language with such preciseness, Sitting with us at every major holiday and sharing stories and doing crafts, Laughing at herself, Sharing with others her WONDERFUL baked goods, Being there for our other family members especially her sisters in law, Loving and being so proud of her daughter, son-in-law and her adorable granddaughters, We will miss her!!"
"I will greatly miss your laugh!!! And all of your stories!!! We had lots of fun learning something new every day. We were all so lucky to have you in our family at Valley View!!!!"
"So thankful to have so many fond memories...those of visiting with Aunt Florence and Uncle Danny as a child and also of her coming to visit for a few days in later years and always timing her visits so she would arrive at my house as we all gathered for our daily "coffee time"."
"Florence was my 2nd mom when we worked at The Company Store. She was always the voice of reason and talked me out of many poor choices. Actually, she was a mother figure for many of us which was a role she relished. She mastered her motherly ways on Jodi though and she was so proud of her daughter and all that she accomplished. When Jodi and John got married she was so tickled to have a son. Of all the roles she had in life, wife and mother were the ones she treasured the most. My sincerest condolances to Jodi and family. There is a hole in my heart today with the loss of such a truly good person."
"I met Florence at The Company Store in 1988, when I started work there. We were in the telemarketing group together and then in Customer Service together. I would tease Florence when she would dribble food, drink on her blouse, as my mother use to do the same. I told her that I was going to start calling her Bernice, which was my mom's name. She would laugh and once in a while she would come to my desk and say that Bernice was visiting. I would like to send my sincirest sympathys to Jodi and her family for the loss of such a great person. I will keep those memories of Flo forever. Joan"
"I worked with Florence at The Company Store for many years. We all loved Florence's great cooking and her wonderful treats she would bring us. She loved mothering all of us and we loved her doing it. She will be sadly missed but the memories will always be with us. My condolances to Jodi and her family."
"My heart goes out to the family. I worked with Flo at The Company Store for several years. She always brought a smile to my face with her many stories. We were all so happy for her when she was able to retired but at the same time didn't want to see her go. She will be missed by many. God bless all of you and she will be in our thoughts."
"Florence will be remembered by her friends at the Houston Public Library for all her efforts in establishing a library in Houston and becoming one of the founding members of our Library Board. I will never forget her running the chicken game at one of our fundraisers, a very messy situation. She always wanted to stress the importance of reading to the children of the community and now there is a library where we will see that her vision will endure. Our sincere condolences to family and friends."