Florence Briese

Florence I. Briese, Wahpeton, ND, formerly Forman , ND , died Tuesday, September 22, 2009, at Palliative Care Unit, Meritcare South Campus, Fargo , ND . The Funeral Mass will be held at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, September 26 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Forman with Rev. Kevin Willis as celebrant. Visitation will be held on Friday from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. with a 7:00 p.m. prayer vigil conducted by Rev. Dale Lagodinski as celebrant at the Vertin-Munson Funeral Home, Wahpeton; also, one hour before the service at the church on Saturday. Interment will be held at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Forman. Vertin-Munson Funeral Home, Wahpeton, is in charge of arrangements.

Florence was born March 22, 1930, at Frazee , MN , the daughter of Art and Mary (Manning) Baker. She grew up in Frazee, attending schools and graduating from Frazee High School . She worked in western North Dakota and on May 6, 1950, she married Kenneth F. Briese. They lived in Fargo , Jamestown and Bismarck before moving to Forman in 1959. In 2006 Florence moved to Wahpeton to be closer to her family.

Florence was active in the Forman community and her church; being involved in: homemakers, 4-H, Scout Leader, Ladies Circle, quilting, sewing and the Sargent County Senior Meals.

Florence is survived by her seven children: Rosemary Leonard, Brainerd, MN; Vance (Bonnie) Briese Gresham, OR; Rachelle (Dan) Acetuna , Fargo, ND; Reeann (Glen) Enderson , Wahpeton; Jerry (Julie) Briese, Rice, MN; Roberta Giese, Oxford, IA; Reinettie (Robert) Briese, Belle Plains, IA; 15GC: Heidi, Heather, Jerry, Amanda, Ashley, Jacob, Zech, Bret, Brock, Brita, Trenton, Trista , Stacey, Steven and Scott; 4 Great GrandChildren , and her brother Gordon Baker, Frazee, MN.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her daughter Rebeca and an infant son Michael.