Florence Marie Wakefield

Florence Wakefield passed away recently at the age of 96. Florence was the second child born to Helen(Meier) and Frank Ulrich, October 2, 1915 in Endres, North Dakota, outside of Max.

There were six children, Josephine, Florence, Mildred, Robert, Viola and Dennis. She exhibited the independence that was to mark her whole life as she left home at age 17 and made her way working as a nanny, cook, pastry cook, soda fountain clerk and waitress in Bismarck, Minot and Washburn.

She met her husband RoderickWakefield, a widower with two children, in Washburn and they were married December 30, 1943. They settled in Watford City where Rod's daughter Violet Bell (Dahl) and Son Frederick (Fritz) joined them shortly. There Florence and Rod had two children Donald and Maxine. After Rod's untimely death in 1963 Florence continued on in Watford City, working as first a legal secretary and then for many years as a clerk at the local variety store while keeping a home and raising her children.

Several years after retirement she moved to Underwood, North Dakota to share a home with her sister Josephine and brother Dennis. She avoided the bitter northern weather by spending winters in California with Maxine. In her eighties she moved to California to live with Maxine. She moved to Kansas at age 91 to spend her last days with her son Don.

She was preceded in death by her husband Roderick, all of her Ulrich siblings, and her two step children. Florence is survived by her children and their spouses: Donald and Janet Wakefield; Maxine Wakefield and William Reichert II. Her grandchildren: Thomas Stewart, Jr., Tracy (Wakefield) & Andy Bebb, Susan (Stewart) Baker. Christopher & Emily Wakefield and Roderick & Elizabeth Wakefield and her step grandchildren David (Kay) Dahl, Kathleen (Bob) Moberg, Laurel (David) Williams, and Barbara (Marvin) Cooper: Her Great Grandsons,Alexander Stewart,Cameron Baker, Colin Wakefield, James Bebb, Mara Wakefield and Sean Bebb. And many step grand children and nieces and nephews who have been a very important part of her life.

Florence was always an independent lady who was an inspiration to her family for her strength. She loved to travel and made trips to Germany, Washington D.C., Alaska and Hawaii to name a few of her favorites. She was funny and loving and will be missed greatly.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 a.m., Wednesday, October 12, 2011, at Good Shepherd Catholic Church.

The family suggests memorial contributions be made to Villa St. Francis, 16600 W. 126th Street, Olathe, Kansas 66062