Florence Borgen

Florence Beatrice Steele Borgen, 92, passed away Feb. 19, 2012, at the Immanuel Lutheran Home, in Kalispell, joining her husband Norman on their anniversary.

She was born Dec. 3, 1919, to Mabel and Roscoe "Pat" Steele in Parkbeg, Saskatchewan. She moved to Whitefish, Montana at the age of 16 to care for her aunt. She enjoyed playing baseball and dances. It was there that she met he husband to be, Norman Borgen.

After a brief stay in San Francisco, Florence moved to Tacoma, Wash., and was employed with S.H. Kress. It was in Tacoma that she and Norman decided to marry. He was stationed at Fort Lewis, Wash., and served in New Guinea during World War II.

Following the war, they returned to the Flathead Valley and started their family. Florence worked at several businesses over the years, including a checker at Carl's Market Basket in Evergreen and Buttrey Foods, sales clerk at KM Mercantile and floor manager at the Cherry Warehouse. She and Norman also owned Evergreen Oil Co. for a time.

She drove school bus for Henry Larkin in Columbia Falls in the 1960s, and she and Norman eventually purchased two buses of their own. They later sold them to their son, Dennis Borgen, and Florence remained a driver for him.

She also was a very involved farm wife working with her husband haying, milking cows, combining, changing irrigation pipe and other routine farm chores.

Florence was very active in the community. When her children were small, she helped build and establish two churches, Our Savior's Lutheran in Columbia Falls and Calvary Lutheran in Evergreen. She served her church in numerous capacities, including president of the ladies organization in both churches, as well as conference and circuit ELCW groups. During her conference presidency, she was instrumental in the ground-breaking of the Immanuel Lutheran Home.

She and Norm lived on several farms throughout the Flathead Valley, from Creston to Columbia Falls, eventually settling in the LaSalle community. This is where she participated in L.B.H Club and Hobby Club with her neighboring farm wives.

As her children grew, she began her lifelong involvement in Flathead County 4-H. She was a leader of Golden Spurs for 44 years. Through 4-H, she touched the lives of many youths, not only in Flathead and Lincoln counties but statewide. She served as Flathead 4-H Foundation president, secretary and treasurer in addition to assisting with the development of the Loon Lake 4-H Camp in Ferndale.

To honor her spirit of volunteerism and dedication to the youth, the 4-H Building at the Flathead County Fairgrounds was named after her. She served on many state 4-H committees and helped write the 4-H Horse Curriculum. 4-H afforded her the opportunity to travel, learn and share with other volunteer leaders from across the nation. Two of her most memorable 4-H trips were to Leader's Conferences in Hawaii and Alaska. It was in Alaska that she was able to watch the Iditarod Sled Dog Race.

She enjoyed her involvement in Grange over the years. She was Past Master of LaSalle Grange, Pomona Grange and won many state awards for her record keeping. She was also the caretaker for LaSalle Grange for many years.

The greatest honor bestowed on Florence was the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce "Great Chief" award, recognizing her many years of volunteer work and commitment to youth. She was quite proud of this recognition.

In 2004, she moved from the family farm to Immanuel Lutheran Home, where she didn't miss a beat in her leadership commitments. It wasn't long before she was elected president of the Resident Council. She also enjoyed all the many activities that the home offered, from bingo to ceramics to pinochle to bus outings. She never missed out on an opportunity to be active.

Florence is preceded in death by her husband Norman, her parents, her sister Patricia, her brother Robert and one grandson.

She is survived by her children Vicky Brookman, of Cochise, Ariz., Dennis Borgen and wife Jan, of Columbia Falls, Thea Borgen, of Eureka, and Wendy McCaffree and husband Ernie, of Columbia Falls; grandchildren Justin Brookman, of Billings, Misty Brookman, of Santa Monica, Calif., Shawn Borgen and wife Amy and Darren Borgen and Janelle Clark, of Columbia Falls, Raee Lyn Hays and husband Jon, of Eureka, Jason Curtiss and wife Tanya, of North Pole, Alaska, Kendall and Eric Gislason, of Whitefish, Zane McCaffree and wife Emily and Shane McCaffree and Portia Elletson, of Columbia Falls; 17 great grandchildren, Kasyn Brookman, of Billings, Thane, Taryn, Talon and Fjord Borgen, of Columbia Falls, Trestin and Peyton Benson, of Eureka, Darian, Sierra, Jaya and Tiyler Curtiss, of North Pole, Alaska, and Kyah, Tracer, Strait, Kyrie, Trygve and Baby Gislason, of Whitefish; and brother Leslie Steele and wife Elma, of Edmonton, Alberta.

Memorial services will be held Feb. 24, 2012, at 12:30 p.m. at the Christian Center Assembly of God Church, in Kalispell, with Pastor Ron Pierce officiating. Burial will be at Glacier Memorial Gardens at 11 a.m.

The family suggests memorial contributions be sent to the Flathead 4-H Foundation or to the Immanuel Lutheran Home, 185 Crestline Avenue, Kalispell MT 59901. Visit online at www.jgfuneralhome.com to offer condolences and view Florence's tribute wall.