63880_Florence_Potter
FLORENCE POTTER, 85 of Forest City formerly of Buffalo Center, died Monday, July 21, 2014 at Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City.
A visitation will be held at the Winter Funeral Home, Buffalo Center, on Thursday July 24, 2014, from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Her family will welcome you to come and share your happy memories. A celebration of Florence’s life will be held at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Buffalo Center on Friday July 25, 2014, at 1:30 pm with Pastor Bill Peake officiating. Interment will follow at Graceland Cemetery North of Buffalo Center.
Florence (Benjamin) Potter was born in Bradgate, IA (Humboldt County) on February 25, 1929. Her parents were John and Clara Benjamin. She attended country schools there until her parents moved to a farm near Buffalo Center Iowa in the 8th grade. Florence and her sister Gloria attended Buffalo Center High School.
In 1945 Florence married Herbert M. Patterson. Five daughters were born to this union before the marriage ended in divorce. Florence returned to the Buffalo Center area.
Through the auctioneer Col. Roy B. Johnson, Florence was introduced to his good friend, Kenneth “Kenny” Potter. They married in 1961. Kenny became an instant Father to five daughters. Florence referred to Kenny as her “bonus”. Kenny adopted all five of Florence’s daughters, and in 1963, Michael was born. When asked about all the work of raising six kids, she said she never thought of it as work.
The couple purchased a farm north of Thompson and resided there throughout their married life. Florence was a faithful wife and helpmate as they farmed together. Many occasions were celebrated at Trinity Lutheran Church near the farm, where Florence was active in women’s ministries and was President of the local AAL/Thrivent Chapter.
Florence will be remembered as a woman of quiet strength, whose perseverance got her through some hard years. Her children remember her as courageous and forgiving. She did not dwell on the past and looked to the future, and her greatest achievements were as wife, mother and grandmother.
Florence was an accomplished seamstress and made her and her daughters’ clothing. She taught all her daughters to sew and also sewed for others. She maintained a large garden and was known for generously sharing produce with neighbors, as well as entering breads and pickles in the contests at the Winnebago County Fair and winning many blue ribbons.
Her other gifts and talents were quilting, refinishing furniture, piecing quilts, and volunteering in the “Little Country School House” in Thompson. There was always plenty of home cooked food and coffee in case anyone stopped. There was always room for one more at the table.
The couple moved to Buffalo Center for their retirement in 1991.
Kenny died in October, 1995. She will be remembered for the way she cared for Kenny during his lengthy illness prior to his death. Following Kenny’s death Florence worked as a receptionist as Timely Mission Nursing Home for seven years. She also enjoyed working part time as a seamstress in the community.
No Photo
After living her whole life in the Buffalo Center and Thompson areas, Florence moved to Forest Plaza Assisted Living Center, in Forest City. She felt at home there with her many friends…. Both residents and caregivers. As her health started failing, Florence eventually moved to Good Samaritan Society in Forest City. Even though her mobility and memory were limited, she enjoyed greeting people from her prime location.
Florence left this life on July 21, 2014, at the age of 85. She was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth Potter, her sister and best friend, Gloria (Benjamin) Friis, and her parents, John and Clara (Rongstad) Benjamin. She is survived by all 6 of her children and their spouses, Diane and Chuck DeVries of Orlando, FL, Marilyn and Chuck Nelson of Enumclaw, WA, Christine and Bill Dean of Jones, OK, Lonnie and Dan Arnevik of Thompson, IA, Lana and Kevin Thompson of Forest City, IA, and Michael and Lanna Potter of Atlanta, GA, as well as 9 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.