Florence M. "Eckman" Smith

Florence M. Smith, 94, of Kerkhoven, died Monday, January 12th at Bethesda Grand in Willmar. Her funeral will be 2:00 pm, Saturday, January 17th at Kerkhoven Lutheran Church with interment in Hillside Cemetery. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Arrangements are with Harvey Anderson & Johnson Funeral Home. www.hafh.org

Florence was born November 6, 1931, in Kerkhoven, the daughter of Lawrence and Hattie (Marquardt) Eckman. She grew up in Kerkhoven where she attended Kerkhoven Public School. She was an active member of the Evangelical Free Church and was later confirmed at Salem Covenant Church. Florence worked at the Kerkhoven Creamery and waitressed at the West End Café following her schooling.

On November 11, 1949, she eloped to Webster, SD, where she was united in marriage to Vernell Smith, who was home on leave from the US Army. Their Best Man, Mike Murphy, walked ahead of their car, to help keep them on the road due to dense fog as they neared their destination.

Following Vernell's discharge from the US Army, they lived in and around the St. Paul area, with their daughters Susan and Patricia. She and Vernell were founding members of Galilee Evangelical Lutheran Church in Roseville.

In 1964, the family moved back to Kerkhoven, which she always thought of as home.

Florence was an extremely dedicated and faithful member of her community and church, Kerkhoven Lutheran. She belonged to the church quilting group, was an active member of WELCA, was a Luther League Leader, a Bloodmobile Coordinator and was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary. She also enjoyed lawn care and tending her flower gardens, making fried chicken for her sons-in-law, and loved shopping for new clothes.

Surviving Florence are daughters, Susan (Wayne) Nelson of Kerkhoven, Patricia (Gordon) Hauge of Sunburg and stepdaughter, Jean Johnson of Surprise ,AZ; grandchildren, Kristian, Erika, Shannon, Courtney, Nicole and

step grandchildren, Christine and Jeff; great grandchildren, Dain, Shelby, Kyla, Harper, Hunter, Hayden, Emersyn, Adele, Lucille, Kyle and step great granddaughter, Reanna; great great grandchildren, Ervin, Edwin, Rylee and step great great grandson, Rory. Also surviving is her nephew, Larry (Susan) Eckman of Brooklyn Park.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Lawrence and Hattie Eckman, husband, Vernell Smith in 1994, brother, Beauford Eckman, and great granddaughter, Harley Rose.