Florence M. Ketchum

St. Charles, Florence M. Ketchum, 86, of St. Charles died Sunday evening, March 23rd at Golden Living Center. She was born March 16, 1928 in Fillmore County to Art and Bertha (Boyum) Kjos. As a child, Florence moved with her family to farm north of Dover. She graduated from Dover High School in 1946. It was there she met Clayton Ketchum. Florence was a cheerleader for Clayton's basketball team. They married April 9, 1947 at North Prairie. Florence and Clayton farmed on the Ketchum family farm northwest of Dover. In 1959 they moved to Bethany to farm. They later moved to Texas to operate a dairy farm. In 2007 the couple returned to the area to live in St. Charles. She entered the Golden Living Center in St. Charles last year. Florence was an excellent baker and cook, known for her lefse, pies and lutefisk and buns. She also liked to sew, crochet and garden. Florence loved babysitting her grandchildren. They loved her lefse, but not the lutefisk. She had a great love for her family. They were the pride of her life. She was a member of Faith Lutheran Church in St. Charles. Survivors include her husband Clayton, three children; Diane (Roger) Fishbaugher of Janesville, Steve (Linda) Ketchum of St. Charles and Robert (Terri) Ketchum of Utica, eight grandchildren; John (Melissa) Fishbaugher, Angela (Ryan) Raveling, Christine (Blake) Bolton, Patricia (Matt) Dronen, Laura Ketchum, Michael (Mary) Ketchum, Eric Ketchum and Jennifer (Travis) Grossell, eight great-grandchildren; Alexis & Clayton Fishbaugher, Brooke Raveling, Tyler & Alex Dronen, Katelyn & Kyli Ketchum and Dustin Grossell. She was preceded in death by her two sisters, Helen Currie and Vernelle Stuckey. Funeral Services will be 11:30 AM Saturday at Hoff Funeral Service in St. Charles with the Reverend Steve McGinley officiating. A reception will follow services. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery in Dover. Friends may call from 5-8 PM Friday and 10:30 - 11:30 AM Saturday at Hoff Funeral Service. Please share a memory of Florence at her on-line guestbook and view her Tribute Video when it becomes available at www.hofffuneral.com.
Tribute video can be found at: videos.lifetributes.com/478260