Obituary: Wiberg, Florence (Linn)
(Age 92)
A longtime Spokane Valley resident, passed away on February 17, 2012, a week shy of her 93rd birthday.
Her kind and loving heart will be greatly missed by everyone.
Florence’s parents, Samuel and Anna Linn, emigrated from Sweden, met and married in Minnesota, and moved to the Silver Valley of Idaho.
One of six children, Florence was born in Wallace and experienced a very happy childhood in a close-knit community.
Education was very important to the family and Florence loved school and hated to miss a day of it.
After high school graduation, she attended the University of Montana for a year with the dream of becoming a teacher.
However, she left school, trained as a secretary, and took various jobs during the early years of the war.
While working in Spokane for the War Production Board, Florence met Bertil Wiberg at a dance.
He was a member of the U.S. Army Air Corps and was stationed at Geiger Field at the time.
They married in Grand Island, Nebraska in 1944, right before Bertil left on a tour of duty in the Pacific.
When he returned, he and Florence settled in Idaho where their three children were born.
In 1952, they moved to the Spokane Valley and were proud to call it home ever since.
Florence had a strong work ethic and kept busy over the years managing a home and family.
She was a wonderful cook and made everything from scratch, using produce from the large family garden and many recipes from her mother.
Luckily, she passed on the Scandinavian traditions to her daughters and granddaughters - not just in cooking and baking, but in sewing and handwork, as well.
Florence worked hard at home, but had an opportunity to use her skills as a part-time legal secretary at various times over the years, too.
Although Florence had many talents and interests, nothing gave her more pleasure than being around family and close friends.
The greatest joys in her life were her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren and she loved and supported each one of them.
She was a longtime member of the Veradale United Church of Christ where she was active in women’s circles and the outreach committee.
She also belonged to the Scandinavian Fraternity and the NABA.
In addition, Florence enjoyed going to aerobics classes at the Senior Center for many years, and delivering Meals on Wheels.
Florence was preceded in death by Bertil, her husband of 64 years; her parents; a baby sister; her sister, Ethel Linn; brothers Ted Linn, Herbert Linn, Arthur Linn, and Melvin Linn.
She is survived by numerous friends and loving family members including daughters Christine Hamilton (Stephen), Sunriver, OR; and Karen Douglas (Alan), Greenacres, WA; son Lawrence Wiberg, Spokane, WA; grandchildren Scott Fitzpatrick (Teri), Raleigh, NC; Brian Fitzpatrick (Melina), Los Angeles, CA; Jennifer Douglas, Spokane, WA; Megan Douglas, Newman Lake, WA; Katie Horgan (Blake), Greenacres, WA; Erik Wiberg, San Diego, CA; Christopher Wiberg, Pullman, WA; great-grandchildren Lily and Audrey Fitzpatrick, Raleigh, NC; Anabella Fitzpatrick, Los Angeles, CA; and Ian Horgan, Greenacres, WA; and a niece, Shari Kidwell (Wayne) of Boise, ID, all of whom will remember her wonderful laughter and smile.
On Sunday, March 11, 2012, a Celebration of Life service will be held for Florence at 3:00 p.m. at the Veradale United Church of Christ, N. 611 Progress Road, Spokane Valley, WA with Rev.
Linda K. Crowe officiating.
A private inurnment service will be held the same weekend at the Nine Mile Cemetery, Wallace, ID.
In lieu of flowers, it is suggested that contributions may be made in Florence’s memory to the Shriners Hospital for Children, 911 W. 5th Ave., Spokane, WA 99204 or the Spokane Valley Meals on Wheels, PO BOX 14278, Spokane Valley, WA 99214.
The family would like to thank the Life Care Center of Post Falls for looking after Florence with such compassion and competence over the past months.
Arrangements are under the direction of Hazen and Jaeger Valley Funeral Home.