Florence Finneman
Florence Finneman
Florence Finneman, age 94, of Beach, North Dakota passed away at St Gabriel's Community in Bismarck, North Dakota on October 11, 2018. Visitation will be held from 11:00 AM until 3:00 PM on Monday, October 15, 2018 at Silha Funeral Home in Beach. A Vigil Service will be held at 7:30 PM on Monday, October 15, 2018 at St. John's Catholic Church in Beach. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, October 16, 2018 with Father Dan Berg officiating. Silha Funeral Home of Beach has been entrusted with the arrangements.
Florence was born on March 30, 1924 on the Begger farmstead near St. Phillips, Montana. She was the daughter of John and Helen (Watembach) Begger and had eleven siblings. Florence graduated from Wibaux High School in 1942.
Florence married C.T. (Buster) Finneman on November 23, 1943. They were married fifty-six years until Buster's death in 2000. Florence's life was mother of seven, farm manager, bookkeeper, and harvest cook. The couple farmed in Golva, North Dakota and Wibaux, Montana until the time of Buster's death. Florence raised the children, managed the farm and cattle while Buster ran the Custom Combining operation for 50 years Her husband lovingly called her "Blondie" and she was also known as "Flossie" to many. In her younger years, she was a 4-H leader and taught her children to cook, sew, can, and make candy. Florence and Buster moved to Beach in 1980. She was an avid gardener of vegetables and flowers and a member of the Beach Garden Club and the Happy Valley Homemakers. She brought her flowers and vegetables to the county fair until she was eighty-eight. Florence was known to bake a pie for those who helped her with things.
Florence was an Altar Society member of Golva and Beach Catholic Churches. She was known for her generosity to those in need and praying for other people's needs. Florence's love of Jesus was everywhere demonstrated by the pictures in her home, her gifts to family, and conversations to children and grandchildren. In her later years, she enjoyed watching the grandkids in sports, especially basketball and hearing her grandchildren's hunting stories. Community activities included: baking cookies, packing "goodie" boxes for the soldiers of the county, and going to rummage sales to add to her collection of "green ware". Florence was socially active and made a special point to see her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Florence moved to the Golden Valley Manor in Beach in 2012. She was very happy being around her past neighbors and very thankful for the great care she received.
Florence is preceded in death by her husband, Buster Finneman; her daughter, Donnella Maixner; her son-in-law, Stephen Kremers; her parents, John and Helen Begger; five brothers, Louis, Edmund (Cecelia Watembach), Leonard (Betty), Dominic (Margaret) and David; her sisters, Elizabeth Brungard and Sally Bachmeir; her in-laws, Viola "Weenie" (Paul) Barthel, Clarence (Gay) Finneman, Marcella (Bud) Kittel, Andrew (Ethel) Finneman and her grandchildren, Perry and Angela Zinsli and Shane Maixner.
Florence is survived by her daughters, Katy (Bill) Zinsli of Beach (Marty, Spirit), Alicia (Leon) Heick of Bismarck (Brent, Royce, Travis), Ruth (Cris) Schmitt of Bay City, Michigan (Jasmine, Joya), Marie Kremers of Sentinel Butte (Karly, Courtney, Lindsay, Cassie); her sons, David (Connie) Finneman of Rapid City (Chad) and Steven (Kathy) Finneman of Missoula (Sara, Ben); her son-in-law, Joel (Linda) Maixner of Bismarck (Chantel, Joelean, Kelly, Becca); two brothers, Harry (Elaine) Begger, Ralph (Dorothy) Begger of Wibaux; her sister, Edvigen Abraham of Beach; her sister-in-laws, Anesia (Leonard) Begger and Janice (Louis) Begger-Champion.
She is thankful to the caregivers at the Golden Valley Manor and St. Gabriel's Community for their loving care.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the family or the Golden Valley County Manor of Beach. Remembrances and condolences may be shared with the family at: www.silhafuneralhomes.com .