Florence Krafthefer

Florence Alvina Celestine Schulz was born April 6, 1923, in Leaf Valley Township, MN, the daughter of Reinold and Sophie (Schoeneck) Schulz. She grew up on her parent’s farm and attended school at District 23. Following her schooling she began work at the National T grocery store in Alexandria. Later, Florence attended beauty school in St. Cloud and worked in a beauty shop in Starbuck, MN for a short time.

Florence enjoyed dancing and met Freddie Krafthefer at a square dance held in Alexandria. On March 21, 1953, she was united in marriage to Freddie at Leaf Valley, MN. In 1958, the couple moved to a farm near Mill Lake in Moe Township where they raised their family. Florence helped Freddie with the farm work and kept a large garden. They lived on this farm for many years until moving closer to Holmes City.

Following Freddie’s death in 1997, Florence continued to live near Holmes City until moving to Alexandria’s Bethel Manor in 2007. Florence’s faith was very strong. Since moving to Moe Township Florence maintained her membership at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church of the Missouri Synod. When she was able, Florence was a very active member of the church, volunteering her time to help in any way she could.

Florence had many interests. She and Freddie belonged to the Vikingland Rovers camping club. They enjoyed camping throughout Minnesota and made special trips to Wisconsin and the Dakotas with their family. Freddie and Florence were both active as 4-H leaders. They also played in card clubs with family and neighbors.  Florence was a member of the Homemakers and the Stitch N Bee quilters. They both loved dancing and had belonged to several square-dancing clubs. The couple also traveled several times to army reunions to visit good friends. Florence was a skilled artist. She made crafts and did painting with acrylics. She and Freddie teamed up; he made turned plates and boxes and Florence did rosemaling on them. She also did several painting demonstrations at the county fair. Eventually Florence was asked to teach painting for community education.

One very special quality that Florence and Freddie shared was their love of children. They served as foster parents for many infants and provided these children with food, shelter and love. Florence’s children, and grandchildren, were most special to her. She taught them and told them what they needed to know (and continued to do so until the day she died). She was very proud of them.

Florence died on March 5, 2020, happily short of her ninety-seventh birthday. She was preceded in death by her husband Freddie Krafthefer; two sons, Marlo Schulz and Francis Krafthefer; and one grandson, Peter Krafthefer. Florence is survived by her sons, Fabian and wife, Anne, of Duluth and Fredric and wife, Lana, of Moe Township; daughter, Faye and husband, Dennis Helmer, of Glenwood, MN; grandchildren, Marc Schulz, Matthew Krafthefer, Dennis Lee Fuoss, Kerry Krafthefer, Korey Krafthefer, Kyle Krafthefer, Holly Johnson, DeeAnna Krafthefer, Emilee Krafthefer, Shelly Fusco and Kaiya Nehk; and great grandchildren, Jasmine Boie, Raven Fuoss, Skyler Schulz, Melissa Schulz, Isabella Schulz, Brenden Fuoss, Gabe Johnson, Cody Krafthefer, Seth Krafthefer, Oliver Krafthefer, Ryker Nehk and Eloise Dahlen; and many loved cousins and friends.

A funeral service will be held at 1 PM Tuesday, March 10, 2020, at Anderson Funeral Home in Alexandria. Interment will follow in Evergreen Cemetery. A visitation will be from 4 to 6 PM Monday at the funeral home. Arrangements are with the Anderson Funeral Home and Crematory in Alexandria.