Florence Lorraine (Farnham) RIGGS

RIGGS, FARNHAM, MEYER

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 6/2/2007 at 17:15:41

Mason City Globe Gazette
1/21/2006

CLEAR LAKE - Florence Riggs, 86, 32 Long Beach, 5851 S. Shore Drive, Clear Lake, died Friday (Jan. 20, 2006) at Muse-Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday (Jan. 29, 2006) at the Clear Lake United Methodist Church, 508 Second Ave. N. in Clear Lake, with the Rev. Jan Burnett officiating. Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, 101 N. Fourth St. in Clear Lake, is in charge of arrangements. Memorials may be given to the Clear Lake United Methodist Church.

Florence Lorraine (Farnham) Riggs was the fifth child of Sarah and Fred Farnham, born in Hewitt, Minn., on Feb. 26, 1919. Florence's father was a minister in small Iowa churches: LeMars, Galt, Lamoille, Farnhamville and Rowan. Florence graduated from Rowan High School in 1936. She attended junior college in Hibbing, Minn., and graduated from the secretarial program. Florence was working at First State Bank in Webster City when she met Robert Riggs at the Webster City EUB Church. Florence and Robert were married March l, 1942, in Ames. The first four years of their marriage was spent moving around to Robert's Army assignments. After the Army, Robert and Florence were in Iowa City while Robert completed college. In 1951, the family moved to Clinton, where Robert worked at Jane Lamb Hospital. They lived there until 1954. By now they had three children: Brian, Ruth Ann and Gail. In June of 1954, Florence and Robert were accepted as missionaries of the Methodist Church and assigned to Korea. The family's departure was delayed in Seattle to wait for the birth of Eric, who made his appearance in November of 1955. In March of 1956 the family sailed to Seoul, Korea. Robert worked as administrator to Severance Hospital in the capital of Seoul. Florence became fairly fluent in the Korean language, worked with widows from the Korean War and also worked on the staff of the Yonsie Medical College and Severance Hospital in addition to setting up the house. In 1968, Robert and Florence completed their mission term and returned to the United States. They have since worked and lived in Ames, Clinton, Cedar Rapids, Sidney and finally retired to Clear Lake in 1985. Florence was a member of Clear Lake First United Methodist Church and a member of UMW.

Florence is survived by her husband, Robert, and two children, Brian Riggs and his wife, Gail, Point of Rocks, Md., and Gail Meyer and her husband, Lother, of Clear Lake; and six grandchildren who have blessed her life. Florence was preceded in death by her parents and all her brothers and sisters, and her children, Ruth Ann and Eric.

Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, 101 N. Fourth St. in Clear Lake.