Florence Silnes
Florence Silnes, 100, of Warren, MN, passed away on Friday, November 23, 2007 at Altru Hospital in Grand Forks, ND.
Florence Edith Eklund was born on August 1, 1907, at the family farm in Red River County west of Hallock, MN. Mrs. Silnes grew up in the North Red River community and Hazelton Township where she attended rural school and worked on the family farm. Mrs. Silnes was baptized November 3, 1907 at Red River Church, west of Hallock. She was Confirmed November 22, 1924 at East Emmaus Church near Kennedy, MN. During her early years she went to grade school and worked on the family farm and taking care of livestock with her brothers and sisters. They worked hard and Florence would tell stories about the fall harvest and how they would celebrate the cold winters and their pets. She lived with her grandparents for ten years before she was married in 1933. In her 20's, she helped her grandfather Alfred Wixsten for ten years at his farm. She worked in fields beside her family preparing meals for the harvest and threshing crews. She also enjoyed driving Grandpa Wixsten around in the Overland motor vehicle. She would drive him to places around the countryside that included her first trip to Minneapolis, MN.
She was united in marriage to Sigvart Silnes on August 1, 1933 at Halma, MN. In 1934, they moved to Warren where he owned and operated Silnes Motors, while Florence was an active homemaker. They had two children, daughter Edith Florence born in 1934 and Sig Jr. born the next year. With a young family and home to maintain, Florence found time to attend church, cook Sunday meals and work on her many hobbies. When Mr. Silnes was mayor of Halma and mayor of Warren for eleven years and a member of the Warren City Council for sixteen years, Florence was also active. During the years of being First Lady of Warren, she represented herself well in various community activities serving along side her husband Sig. Mrs. Silnes was also know to be an excellent hostess and a great cook. Many family and friends throughout the years looked forward to an invitation to share her hospitality and taste her cooking! Florence was active in the Marshall County Fairs and won many blue ribbons for her various projects and creations, which included brightly colored braided rugs. Mr. and Mrs. Silnes celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on August 1, 1983. Florence was an active homemaker at age 70 and started her first job with the Green Thumb Program. She worked for twelve years and retired at age eighty-two years. During this time she also cared for her husband Sig, until his passing in 1990. In later years she enjoyed her grandchildren, traveling with her family and especially trips to visit her sister Mildred and brother Lawrence. She was also adventurous and went on many Home-Makers Traveling trips with her daughter Edith and other family members. She liked her independence in her home at 627 N 4th St. in Warren, sewing, jewelry, collecting, knitting and crocheting and making wonderful Christmas ornaments. Of course she continued to drive her car. She was faithful to the Warren Senior Citizens Club and continued to volunteer there into her mid 90's and socialized with all age groups. She loved her family, community and valued all her friends throughout her lifetime.
Mrs. Silnes was an active member of Mother's Club, TOPS Club and received KOPS Status February 5, 1998, Warren Chapter 116, Order of Eastern Star and was Associate Matron and Worthy Matron, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, American Legion Auxiliary (50 year member), 1952 Girl Scout Council member and 1951 Boy Scout Council member, Agassiz Swedish Heritage Society, Warren Senior Citizen Club, Warren Community Hospital and Home Auxiliary, Sons of Norway, Retired Senior Volunteer Program of the Red River Valley and American Association of Retired Persons (AARP). In 1991 and 2007, she represented the city of Warren as the Outstanding Senior Citizen at the Marshall County Fair.
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Left to mourn her passing are daughter, Edith Florence Silnes Soli of Grand Forks, ND, son and daughter-in-law, Sigvart R. Jr. and Marlene Silnes of Warren, MN, eight grandchildren, fourteen great-grandchildren, two brothers, Lawrence (Ruth) Eklund of Baltimore, MD and Melford Eklund of Hallock, MN, sister, Mildred Burger of West Allis, WI and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Irwin and Alma Sophia (Wixsten) Eklund, three brothers, Stanley Eklund, Alfred Eklund and Oscar Eklund and sister, Helen Schroeder.
Visitation: One hour before services in the church.
Funeral Service: 10:30 a.m on Monday, November 26, 2007 at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Warren, MN.
Visitation: One hour before services in the church.
Internment: Greenwood Cemetery, Warren, MN.
Online register book available at www.duborefuneralhome.com .
Arrangements with DuBore Funeral Home, Warren, MN.
