Florence Bahma

Florence Marie Bahma, 76, of Moorhead, MN, went to be with her heavenly family on Wednesday, November 19, 2014, in Eventide on Eighth, Moorhead, after a courageous battle with cancer.

Florence was born December 13, 1937, to John and Emogene (Leach) Heldt in rural Glyndon, MN. She attended Glyndon Public School, graduating in 1955. Upon graduation she began working at Bell Telephone Company and St. Ansgars Hospital and enrolled at Moorhead State College in Elementary Education.

In the fall of 1959, she started teaching at Starbuck, MN, and later in North St. Paul, MN. After that, she became the Office Administrator in the Office of Parish Education at the American Lutheran Church in Minneapolis, MN.

Florence was united in marriage to John Bahma on May 3, 1969, in Glyndon Lutheran Church. Over the years John's position at 3M allowed them to live in several Minnesota locations including St. Paul, rural Hutchinson/Dassel, Stillwater (3 times), New Ulm, and also Tucson, AZ. They retired in 1996 to Lake Lida in Vergas, MN, and later acquired a winter home in Mesa, AZ. In 2007, Florence and John moved to Moorhead.

Florence was always a most devoted wife, mother and grandmother. Her passions included her five grandchildren, quilting (resulting in many quilts and wall hangings), her flowers and roses which she grew at each house she lived in and a love for travel and seeing new places. She made life-long friends everywhere she lived and was known for her ability to help encourage people. On every move, Florence's first priority was to find a new church home.

Florence is survived by her husband, John; children, Joel (Kim) Bahma and their children, Sydney and Jae; Lisa (Dan Neitge) Bahma and their son, Devon; Michael (Dixie) Bahma and their daughters, Scarlett and Hannah; brother, Virgil (Darlene) Heldt; sisters, Vera (Orby) Hochstetler, Lila (Robert) Erickson, Hazel (George) Retzlaff, Carol (Ron) Kirkhorn, Esther (Bruce) Ellingson and Gerri (Gordon) Slabaugh; many nieces and nephews; and sisters-in-law, Shirley Bahma and Joan Bahma. Her relationship with her immediate family, siblings and extended family was and remains extraordinarily strong.

Memorials may be directed to Hospice of the Red River Valley or a charity of your choice.

A gathering of friends for Florence will be Sunday from 3 PM until 5 PM in Korsmo Funeral Chapel, Moorhead.

Her life will be celebrated on Monday, November 24, 2014, at 2 PM in Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, Moorhead.

Burial will take place in the Columbarium at Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd.

(Korsmo Funeral Service, Moorhead)