Florence Danielson
January 17, 1912 ~ March 3, 2008
Served by: Luce, Luze & Reck Funeral Homes
Florence T. Danielson, 96, of Pierre and formerly of Highmore, died Monday, March 3, 2008 at the Maryhouse Nursing Home in Pierre.
Mass of Christian Burial was held at 11:00a.m., Friday, March 7, 2008 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Highmore with Father Nereparmpil and Father DeRouchey officiating. Burial was in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Highmore, directed by Luze Funeral Home of Highmore. A memorial service was held at 7:00p.m., Thursday, March 6 at the Maryhouse Nursing Home in Pierre.
Florence Theresa was born in Wagner on January 17, 1912, the oldest child of Clyde and Mary (Halter) Losey. The family later moved to Huron where she graduated from high school in 1930. She attended Huron College and received her teacher’s certificate in 1932.
She taught in various schools around central South Dakota. One year she taught and lived in the DeGrey school and spent part of the time killing rattlesnakes that wanted to join her when the weather turned cold. One June 17, 1937 she married Ray Danielson and the couple lived in Ree Heights. She continued to teach in area schools until Ray was hired by Northwestern Public Service Company; and they moved to Huron. In 1942, their son John was born and the family moved to Highmore in 1944.
Florence taught first and second grade in Harrold for twenty-seven years. In 1960, she came in second when radio station WNAX sponsored a “my favorite teacher” contest and people from the listening audience mailed in votes for their favorite teacher. She graduated from Huron College in 1963 and received her Masters Degree in Special Education from Northern State University in 1968. In 1970, she became the special education teacher in the Highmore Public School and retired from teaching in 1975.
Throughout her married life, Florence and Ray loved to travel. They visited all fifty states, the provinces of Canada, Mexico and Ireland. They celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary with a trip to Hawaii and a cruise around the islands. They spent fifty-two great years in Highmore. She belonged to the Altar Society, Catholic Daughters, and Legion of Mary. They did mission work one year during the summer in the 1970’s in one of the toughest parts of Chicago.
In 1995 she lived in Parkwood apartments in Pierre. She spent her time reading, praying and enjoying the visits with her grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Her memory will be cherished by her son, John (Cathy) Danielson of Lakewood, Colorado; two sisters: Mary and Joan; four granddaughters: Cathleen (Zach) Golden of Denver, Colorado, Julie (Geoff) Hoffman of Throsby Alberta, Adelaide (Ryan) Murphy of Lakewood, Colorado, and Cosette (Brian) DeCesare of Lakewood, Colorado; and thirteen great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Ray in 1999; three sisters: Nellie, Inez, and Catherine; and one brother: Greeley.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Blessed Tekakwitha Catholic Church in Pierre.
Luze Funeral Home of Highmore was entrusted with her arrangements.
Mass of Christian Burial was held at 11:00a.m., Friday, March 7, 2008 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Highmore with Father Nereparmpil and Father DeRouchey officiating. Burial was in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Highmore, directed by Luze Funeral Home of Highmore. A memorial service was held at 7:00p.m., Thursday, March 6 at the Maryhouse Nursing Home in Pierre.
Florence Theresa was born in Wagner on January 17, 1912, the oldest child of Clyde and Mary (Halter) Losey. The family later moved to Huron where she graduated from high school in 1930. She attended Huron College and received her teacher’s certificate in 1932.
She taught in various schools around central South Dakota. One year she taught and lived in the DeGrey school and spent part of the time killing rattlesnakes that wanted to join her when the weather turned cold. One June 17, 1937 she married Ray Danielson and the couple lived in Ree Heights. She continued to teach in area schools until Ray was hired by Northwestern Public Service Company; and they moved to Huron. In 1942, their son John was born and the family moved to Highmore in 1944.
Florence taught first and second grade in Harrold for twenty-seven years. In 1960, she came in second when radio station WNAX sponsored a “my favorite teacher” contest and people from the listening audience mailed in votes for their favorite teacher. She graduated from Huron College in 1963 and received her Masters Degree in Special Education from Northern State University in 1968. In 1970, she became the special education teacher in the Highmore Public School and retired from teaching in 1975.
Throughout her married life, Florence and Ray loved to travel. They visited all fifty states, the provinces of Canada, Mexico and Ireland. They celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary with a trip to Hawaii and a cruise around the islands. They spent fifty-two great years in Highmore. She belonged to the Altar Society, Catholic Daughters, and Legion of Mary. They did mission work one year during the summer in the 1970’s in one of the toughest parts of Chicago.
In 1995 she lived in Parkwood apartments in Pierre. She spent her time reading, praying and enjoying the visits with her grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Her memory will be cherished by her son, John (Cathy) Danielson of Lakewood, Colorado; two sisters: Mary and Joan; four granddaughters: Cathleen (Zach) Golden of Denver, Colorado, Julie (Geoff) Hoffman of Throsby Alberta, Adelaide (Ryan) Murphy of Lakewood, Colorado, and Cosette (Brian) DeCesare of Lakewood, Colorado; and thirteen great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Ray in 1999; three sisters: Nellie, Inez, and Catherine; and one brother: Greeley.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Blessed Tekakwitha Catholic Church in Pierre.
Luze Funeral Home of Highmore was entrusted with her arrangements.
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Florence and Ray were an important part of our family’s faith development. One great memory I have is traveling with them and finding out they knew distances to towns by how many rosaries could be prayed. You are in my prayers and I will offer a Mass for Florence.
Fr. Dave Axtmann
Florence Danielson was a significant part of the lives of my family in my growing up years. She was the first-second grade teacher at Harrold where most of us “Garrity’s” went to school, some of us 12 years and some less when our Mother moved to Hoven, SD after our Dad’s death. Florence was a very dedicated teacher, caring deeply for her students. When in high school, I occassionally helped with her students. God’s Blessings upon her soul and upon her family. Pat Rausch (currently living in Hoven, SD and working in Gettysburg.
Was my kindergarten teacher, the memories are barely there. Her life reads quite an adventure and alot of caring and giving thrown in. Sympathy to her family and friends.