Florence Helen Utley, 88, Iola, died Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2013 at Windsor Place in Iola.
Florence was born March 26, 1924, in Nobles County, Minn., the eighth of 13 children born to August and Margaret (Froham) Lange. She grew up in the rural Luverne, Minn. area.
On May 29, 1943, Florence married Marvin F. Utley in Ivanhoe, Minn. They farmed in Minnesota and South Dakota before moving north of Gas in 1959. She worked for Iola Deluxe Cleaners before working for 28 years for IMP Boats in Iola. After she retired from IMP, she operated a daycare center for six years. Mr. Utley preceded her in death on Jan. 7, 1998, and she moved from LaHarpe to Iola later that year.
The Utleys enjoyed camping and belonged to the 76 Wheelers Campers Club for 10 years. She was active in the LaHarpe Softball and Baseball Association while her children were growing up and served on the LaHarpe City Council for 12 years. She served as president of the Iola Senior Center and was instrumental in starting the senior dances. Florence enjoyed traveling, bus trips, going to casinos and playing cards every afternoon at the Senior Center until her health failed.
Survivors are her children, twin sons Larry Utley and wife, Sharon, and Jerry Utley and companion, Janice Oberg, Iola, Carol Wilson, Texarkana, Ark., Steve Utley and wife, Shirley, LaHarpe, Duane Utley and wife, Virginia, Piqua, and Judy Johnson, Gas; three brothers, Bob Lange and Rodney Lange, Luverne, Minn., and Donald Lange of Adrian, Minn.; 11 grandchildren and numerous great- and great-great-grandchildren
Florence was preceded in death by her husband, Marvin, granddaughter Donna Wilson, sons-in-law Alan A. J. Johnson and Roy Wilson, great-granddaughter Rachael Beard and siblings, Esther Utley, Edna Goembel, Evelyn Bruesder, Raymond Lange, Violet Cauwels, Vivian Cauwels, Lloyd Lange, Fern Werkman and Joyce Mormann.
Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m., Thursday, at Waugh-Yokum & Friskel Chapel in Iola.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m., Friday, at the chapel.
Burial will be at LaHarpe Cemetery, LaHarpe.
Memorial choices are Iola Senior Center or Allen County Home Health and can be left with the Waugh-Yokum & Friskel Memorial Chapel of Iola, which is in charge of arrangements.
Online condolences for the family may be left at www.iolafuneral.com.
Florence Utley
