Mavone O. Floan

1934 - 2020

Mavone O. Floan, 85, died on Friday, March 6, 2020 at the Swift Co Benson Hospital surrounded by her family.  Funeral services will be held on Friday, March 13, 2020 at 1:30 p.m. at West Zion Lutheran Church, rural Hancock, MN with visitation on Thursday, March 12, 2020 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at the Zniewski Funeral Home and continuing from 12:30-1:30 at the church on Friday.

Mavone O. Floan was born on March 9, 1934 to Olvin and Mabel (Jenum) Nelson on the family farm in Barsness Township, Pope County, Minnesota.  She attended rural school near their home through 8th grade and finished her high school education graduating from Glenwood High School in 1952.  After graduation she completed a Teacher’s Training course in Madison, MN and became certified to teach in rural schools.  She taught school in District 65 in Langhei Township, Pope Co. until her marriage.

On July 10, 1954 she married Arthur Floan at Barsness Lutheran Church, rural Glenwood.  They lived on the family farm in Langhei Township where they raised their 5 children.  In 1984 they moved into Benson and she did day care, worked at Mark’s Floral, and  Prairie 5 in Benson until her retirement. 

She was a member of West Zion Lutheran Church where she taught Sunday School and VBS, attended Bible Studies, and was active in the work of the Women of West Zion.  Her faith was a very important part of her life and she lived it through her work in the church, her family, and community.

She loved to read books and many pots of potatoes burned while she sat down with a book while she waited for supper to cook!  She also loved her flowers.   She was especially proud of a bleeding heart plant that had been her grandmother’s and the snow drops that came from England.  For many years she enjoyed her friendship with her pen-pal, Mary, from England.  In 2001 Mavone’s dream came true and she traveled  to England to visit her friend.  She loved to bake and made lots of Norwegian goodies at Christmas, monster cookies for the grandkids, and homemade bread.

Mavone is survived by her children:  Susan (Duane) Hopp of Benson, Larry (Sherri) Floan of Alexandria, Ann (Roger) Frevert of Big Stone City, SD, Peggy (Rick Nelson) Floan of Hudson, WI, and Connie (Mike) Lee of Benson, and honorary son and daughter, Reid and Barb Foslien of Benson; 11 grandchildren:  Sara (Pat) Revier, Brent (Shannon) Floan, Katie Mattila, Paul (Haley) Floan, Tina (Bill Skappel) Redepenning, Heidi (Joey Marquardt) Redepenning, Jonathan (Kari) Jaeger, Aimee (Burt) Yardley, Jordan (Hannah Williston) Lee, Briana (Adam Wilde) Lee, 14 great-grandchildren, Ethan, Brekin, Tiana, Hunter, Caden, Kaliyah, Ava, Logan, Kyle, Andrew, Audrey, Lucy, Payton, and Addison, sister-in-law, Becky Nelson of Glenwood,  and nieces and nephews.  Mavone was preceded in death by her husband, Art, on Dec. 14, 2019, her parents, Olvin and Mabel, brother, Ardell Nelson, in-laws, Paul Odin and Olga Floan,  Eleanor Floan and Pearl and Waldo Lagred. 

Blessed be her memory.