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Memories &
Stories Knut Adolph Florine Family |
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| Florine Recalls Early Days By Mildred Smith
The cigar lei looked as though it was made of flower centers or leaves and could, with proper care, be kept and worn for a long period. Knut is acquainted with the flora and fauna of Hawaii. He has through the years that Dr. Charlotte has lived there, visited twice – Once for a period of seven months and again for a three month stay. Dr. Charlotte has been in Hawaii since 1954. Knut has traveled extensively too, as his children have lived in many parts of the world in pursuing their careers. Gladys, now Mrs. Herman Flint, taught in government schools for several years, living in many different countries including Africa during that time. She now teaches in Minneapolis. He has also visited many European countries, especially while Tom was stationed abroad. This included his homeland of Sweden and Denmark, the homeland of his wife. In addition to Charlotte and Gladys, the Florine family includes: John and Bonnie, deceased; Lucille (Mrs. Art Lorenzen) nurse in Scottsdale Ariz.; Bob, Retired Lt. Col. In Air Force, now farming near Sutherland; Della (Mrs. Bob Moss) Plant City, Fla., an ex-teacher; Lt. Col. Tommy, veterinarian in Army now at Libertyville, Ill.; Patsy (Mrs. Dan Pokorny). Rev. Dan and Patsy Pokorny are now living in Switzerland on an exchange program, ministering to the deaf. He is on leave from Gallaudet College for the Deaf in Washington, D. C. Mrs. Florine died in 1948. Knut says it was no snap raising 10 children but he adds hastily, “They all worked.” He says the boys did the farming while he operated the store known as “Florine’s Paint Shop” located in the building since remodeled for Don Hankens’ office in Cherokee. Knut came to the U.S. from Sweden when he was 16 to join his brothers, Bob and Axel, at Cleghorn and Marcus who were in the paint business. Those were not the most prosperous of times for anyone. Knut says he first farmed in the Larrabee area then moved to the present farm south of Cherokee 30 years ago. He operated the paint shop for 33 years. He recalls hanging wall paper and painting for 25 cents an hour. He also remembers bringing in wall paper by the semi-truck load and selling it at 12 ½ cents a single roll. “I paid the first girl I hired, Ruth Banister, $9 a week,” he reported. “No one got rich,” he remarked, “but I made a living.” Knut is the oldest member of the Cherokee Order of Odd Fellows Lodge. He has been a member for 55 years. He lives alone on his farm south of Cherokee, doing for himself, “except for cleaning. Bob’s wife does that for me.” Knut has 19 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren and enjoys the frequent visits of his children and grandchildren. He keeps busy “puttering around” and keeping track of the family in all of their various activities. (Source: Former Cherokee County Historical Society scrapbook. Clipping hand dated 1972) |
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Patricia Louise (Florine) Pokorny
In Memory of the Florine Family |
