Florence Schwanke

Florence Irene Schwanke was born October 28, 1918 on the family farm in Murray County to LeRoy and Anna (Kuehl) Leibfried. She attended the convent school in Heron Lake through the 4th grade, Oaks Lake country school through the 8th grade, and graduated from Fulda High School in 1937. As a student at Fulda High School, Florence played forward for the girls basketball team and loved that more than the academics. She then attended Lee's Beauty School in St. Paul. Florence worked as a beautician until she married Lyle Schwanke on January 15, 1942 - the same day her parents and Lyle's parents were married. 3 years later, her brother Dennis married on that same day. Florence and Lyle lived on a farm 3 miles west of Sanborn until 2006 when health issues brought them first to Vista Ridge, then The Maples, and lastly to St. John Lutheran Home in Springfield. Florence was a loving wife and mother, and a woman of strong faith with a servant heart. She was a 4-H leader as her children grew up and served her church in many ways - as a member of Christian Mothers, singing with a quartet for funerals, and as a Eucharistic Minister after the church allowed women to participate. Florence was an introvert by nature and never drew attention to herself but still served in many leadership roles; as president of the Council of Catholic Women for the archdiocese of New Ulm, and as a delegate to a women's conference out east which was her first and only plane trip. In 1989 she was given the Bishops Medal in appreciation for ministry to the sick and elderly, a leader in prayer group, the Council of Catholic Women, and involvement in community. She loved her women friends and participated in many organizations - Extension Club, Birthday Club, Hobby Club, Garden Club, as a leader of the Farm Bureau Women's Committee, and on the Valley View Manor Auxiliary. For over 20 years she used her beauty school skills at Valley View by volunteering to wash and set hair for the residents. She received a plaque in 1983 for the volunteer with the most visits in a year, 75, at Valley View Manor. She is survived by husband Lyle; children- Barbara (Roger) Berggren of New Brighton, Bernel (Delores) Schwanke of Sanborn, and Beverly (Larry) Mullinix of Sibley, IA; 9 grandchildren- Kim, Amy, Lisa, Nicole, Tammy, Mark, Audrey, Laura and Shari; 15 great-grandchildren; 3 great-great-grandchildren; sister Betty Dahlhoff of Slayton; and brother Jim (Mary) Leibfried of Winnipeg, Canada. She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers- Leo and Dennis Leibfried; and sister Eileen Jeppesen. Visitation 10:00 am - 11:00 am Saturday, October 11, 2014 St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Lamberton, MN 400 2nd Ave. W. Lamberton, Minnesota, United States 56152 Service Information 11:00 am Saturday, October 11, 2014 St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Lamberton, MN 400 2nd Ave. W. Lamberton, Minnesota, United States 56152 Interment Information Lamberton Cemetery rural Lamberton Lamberton, Minnesota, United States 56152