Somers, Florence (1914-2005)

SOMERS, ARP, LAURITZEN

Posted By: John Schulte (email)
Date: 7/14/2005 at 15:21:54

Audubon County Advocate

Funeral services for Florence Somers, 91, were conducted July 11, 2005 at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Audubon, with Pastor Walter Kukkonen officiating. Interment was in the Exira Cemetery in Exira. Casket bearers were John Jensen, Gary Fancher, Norval Nissen, Scott Rosenthal, Cary Shapiro and Justin Shapiro.

Florence Hansine Somers, the daughter of Hans Peter and Cecelia Arp Lauritzen was born Feb. 5, 1914, at her parents home in Sharon Township, Audubon County, and died July 8, 2005, at the Audubon County Memorial Hospital in Audubon.

Florence was baptized and confirmed at Bethany Lutheran Church northeast of Kimballton. She attended rual school in Sharon Township and then graduated from the Audubon High School with the Class of 1932. She attended and graduated from the Iowa School of Beauty in Des Moines then operated a beauty shop in Audubon for several years. During World War II, Florence and her sister, Alice moved to Des Moines where they were employed at the Des Moines Ordnance Plant. Later she worked for the Addressograph and Mutigraph Co. and then the Iowa-Des Moines National Bank for a short time. In 1948, she returned to Audubon to manage the A.B.C. Credit Corporation. In February of 1962, she purchased and operated the Duet Dress Shop in Audubon until she sold it in the winter of 1971.

On July 9, 1972, she was united in marriage to Harold G. Somers at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Audubon. They maintained their home in Audubon. Harold died Jan. 20, 2002. Florence moved to the Friendship Village in the summer of 2003.

Florence was a member of Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Audubon where she taught Sunday School and was the Sunday School superintendent. She was a member of the Women of the Church and had served as an officer. She was a member of the Business and Professional Women’s Club and served as District Director. She was also a member of the Audubon Federated Women.

Preceding her in death in addition to her husband, Harold, were her parents; brothers and sisters: infant sister; infant brother, Clarence Lauritzen; Anna and husband, Emil L. Jensen; Clarence and wife, Ione Lauritzen; Edward and wife, Mildred Lauritzen; brother-in-law, Dwight Parkison, niece, Florence Wilson; nephews: Philip Jensen and Mark Rosenthal.

Florence is survived by her sister, Alice Parkison of Denver, CO; sister-in-law, LaVaun and husband, Glen Fancher of Audubon; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.