[Nfbmt] Flo Nelson Also Passed

[James Aldrich]

Hello all!

Yes!  Another great one has left us!  Flo was one in a million too as 
it is said!  I like to think not only her and Joe are together again, 
but all of those who have left us are enjoying a marvelous reunion!

Jim
Original message:
> Greetings -

> I attended Lois DuPUis' memorial service in Polson yesterday. In
> talking with her daughter Anita after the service, I learned tht Flo
> Nelson passed away just a week or so before Lois.  Flo and Lois were
> great friends, and Flo was the long-time president of the Lelia
> Proctor Memorial Chapter in Kalispell.

> Both of these women were great souls And I miss them both.

> ****

> Elon Florine ‘Flo’ Gilcrease Nelson, 93 - Daily Inter Lake: Obituaries

> Elon Florine ‘Flo’ Gilcrease Nelson, 93

> Posted: Tuesday, November 20, 2012 4:16 pm

> Elon Florine “Flo” Gilcrease Nelson passed away Sunday, Nov. 18, 2012,
> surrounded by family, at the home of her granddaughter Lori Rainwater
> in Bigfork.


> Born June 29, 1919, in Cottonwood, Ariz., to Elon Catherine Stewart
> Gilcrease (age 19) and Dan Edward Gilcrease (age 38), Flo spent her
> youth in the Cottonwood
> area. As the eldest of five children, Flo quickly became primary
> caretaker for her siblings.

> Flo loved school and in spite of numerous family moves always found
> teachers who mentored and encouraged her. She eagerly took to the
> books and was promoted
> two grades during elementary school. She became the first in her
> family to graduate from high school, which was not an easy task for a
> girl who cleaned,
> cooked and baby-sat for other families in order to live close to a school.

> Upon graduation, Flo’s goal was to become a registered nurse. However,
> her dream took a different direction when she was introduced to a
> charmingly electric
> guy from Montana — Joe Nelson. As they both related at their 70th
> anniversary in 2009, they were destined to be together to take on the
> world. At age 18,
> newlywed Flo boarded a bus bound for Kalispell, and as she's said many
> times, “Never looked back!”

> Flo took on and embraced diverse roles in her life, all with one
> common theme — work hard and make a difference wherever you can. She
> was known to speak
> her mind and refreshingly did so in a direct no-nonsense way. She was
> quick to offer solutions, as well as point out just why something
> needed improvement.
> Whether someone was choosing a career, planting a flower garden or
> naming a grandchild, Flo freely offered her opinion.

> With a great work ethic, Flo’s accomplishments were many. She took on
> numerous professional, as well as volunteer, roles including writer,
> office manager
> and Nobel Grand of the Rebekahs. Her involvement with the Montana
> Association for the Blind included serving as president of the
> Flathead Chapter for several
> years.

> She loved dancing with Joe, a good game of cards, gardening, genealogy
> and especially traveling with Joe in their motor home. She was most
> proud of her
> children, and their children, and the impact that her life partner,
> Joe, had on Bigfork, Flathead County and the state of Montana. Joe
> relied on this lifetime
> partnership in all his endeavors.

> A lifelong goal was realized at the age of 91 when she published her
> first book, an autobiography, “Stories I Remember.” She had recently
> finished a book
> about Joe's life.

> Flo was preceded in death by Joe; her sister, Doris (Gilcrease)
> Bosick; and brother, Dan Gilcrease.

> She is survived by three children, Gerri Johnson and Ron of Palm
> Springs, Calif., Joe Jr., and Karen of Petersburg, Alaska, and
> Harriett Brittenham and
> Marvin of Parker, Colo. Also surviving are seven grandchildren, 19
> great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild, with another
> expected in March.
> Also surviving Flo are her two brothers, Tad and Bert Gilcrease; and
> sister-in-law, Ann, and Dan Gilcrease of Arizona.

> For the past several years Flo and Joe have been blessed to have at
> their side eldest granddaughter, Lori Rainwater. Lori moved from
> Tacoma, Wash., to
> live close and help take care of Grandpa Joe and Gram. The Nelson
> family is deeply indebted to Lori for the love, patience, commitment,
> enthusiasm and
> joy that she so freely gave to Joe and Flo.

> Services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 23, at Buffalo Hill
> Funeral Home with the Rev. Ronnie Pierce officiating, and all are
> invited to a reception
> hosted by the Bigfork Fire Department at 1:30 p.m.

> In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in
> Flo’s name to the Bigfork Fire Department.

> “Joe and Flo — Meant to be together long ago, are together again.”
> --
> Dan Burke, President
> The National Federation of the Blind of Montana

> Visit us on Face Book at http://bit.ly/nfbmtfb
> My Cell:  406.546.8546

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