Floyd Florey

Floyd Florey, 94, of Montevideo, passed away on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, at Avera Granite Falls Care Center.  Funeral service will be held on Monday, February 23rd at 2:00 pm at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Montevideo.  Visitation will be held one hour prior to services on Monday.

Floyd Freeman Florey was the first of four children born to Guy Emmet and Ellen Marie (Hopland) Florey. On February 1, 1932, at 7:30 p.m. Floyd was born at Trinity Hospital in Jamestown, N.D. He weighed 7 pounds, 12 ounces, had dark brown hair and smiled on the day he was born. Floyd’s birth was followed by his sister, Fern Paulyn Florey in 1933, Fay Emmett Florey in 1934 and Francis Gary Florey in 1936.

Dad loved to recount the story of his journey home from the hospital. On February 20, Floyd's first trip was in J. N. Johnson's car to the Northern Pacific depot, then he and his mother traveled by train from Jamestown to Vashti, N.D. and then by sleigh from Vashti to home near Pingree, N.D.

On March 20, 1932, Floyd Freeman Florey was baptized at home into the Christian faith by Rev. Hans Upstad of the Deer Lake Lutheran Church, Pingree, N.D.

In 1937 the family moved to Maynard, Minnesota where Guy operated an oil station. Approximately two years later the family moved to the Florey farm located one mile north and one mile west of Henry, South Dakota.

Floyd graduated from Thorp High School, rural Garden City, S.D. He was valedictorian in a class of three.

On August 27, 1952, Floyd Freeman Florey was inducted into the Armed Forces of the United States at Sioux Falls, S.D. In November of 1953, Floyd became Administrative Clerk (Company Clerk) of Company H, 1st Infantry Training Regiment, Camp Gordon (Georgia) Replacement Training Center. Having obtained the rank of Corporal, Floyd served in that capacity until he was honorably discharged on May 28, 1954. He enrolled full time to Augustana College, Sioux Falls, S.D. On June 4, 1956, Floyd graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in business administration and a minor in mathematics.

It is there at Augie that Floyd met his soon to be wife, Eleanor Mae (Johnson) Florey. Following his college graduation, in November of 1957 Floyd passed his Certified Public Accounting Examination after his first attempt. In June of 1958 Floyd graduated from the University of Denver, Colo. with a degree of Master of Business Administration. Throughout his life, Floyd loved to learn. He passed that passion on to his two children. Family vacations always incorporated learning opportunities whether it was a tour through a factory making bread or an outing to an historic site. Over the years, Floyd and Eleanor established a scholarship at their alma mater.

Floyd and Eleanor were married on March 24, 1957, at Trondhjem Lutheran Church, rural Volin, S.D. The officiating clergyman was Eleanor’s brother I. Murray Johnson, witnesses were Eleanor’s sister, Mrs. Helmer (Isabelle)Haugland and Fay Florey. The sermon was given by Eleanor’s brother, Rev. Virgil O. Johnson.

On December 14, 1958, Floyd and Ele’s first child, Matthew John Florey died at birth at General Rose Memorial Hospital, Denver, Colo. On February 2, 1960, Karla Marie Florey was born and on April 7, 1961, Daniel Floyd Florey was born.

In June of 1964, moving from his accounting job in Denver, Colo., Floyd became the Controller of Augustana College, Sioux Falls, S.D. After eight years Floyd began working for the certified public accounting firm of Anderson, Helgeson, Lieser & Thorsen in Minneapolis, Minn. On October 1, 1974, the firm split into 3 separate firms. Floyd continued to work for Adrian S. Helgeson & Co., one of the newly organized firms. He became a partner to Adrian Helgeson & Co. in 1983.

When Adrian Helgeson retired the firm merged with Virchow, Krause & Co. of Madison, Wis. And became Virchow, Krause, Helgeson & Co. At the time of the merger, Floyd became a partner of Virchow, Krause, Helgeson & Co.

After a lengthy and successful career as a CPA, Floyd retired at the end of May 1995.

During retirement, Floyd and Eleanor enjoyed traveling, visiting relatives, seeing new sights and doing genealogy research. Their best trip was to Norway in celebration of their 50th wedding anniversary. Over a dozen members of their families joined in on the adventure. In his spare time, Floyd worked on his stamp collection, he volunteered at the neighboring junior high school. He helped students with their homework as they were learning English. Floyd thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to learn from these students. Through St. James Lutheran Church, Crystal, Minn., Floyd also volunteered for the Power of One 5th grade reading program and he delivered meals through Loaves and Fishes. He was also passionate about working to provide homes for the homeless.

Floyd is survived by his two children, Rev. Karla Mickelson and partner Dr. Paul Schulz; Daniel Florey and wife, Sandy Fiecke; one granddaughter, Dr. Alyssa Emo and husband, Forrest Emo; two great grandsons, Bennett and Elliott Emo; his brothers Francis and Fay Florey. In addition, Floyd is survived by many nieces and nephews and their families.

Floyd is preceded in death by his parents, Guy and Marie Florey; his wife, Eleanor; his infant son, Matthew; his infant grandson, Andrew; his son-in-law, Duane and his sister Fern.

Memorials can be given to Heritage Haven, Montevideo, Minn., Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Montevideo Minn. or a charity of your choosing.