Florence Dahlstrom

Florence Maxine Dahlstrom, age 93, went to be with her Lord and Savior on October 26, 2023, in the Wishek Living Center at Wishek, North Dakota.  Florence was born August 10, 1930, to Emory and Selma (Uhlhorn) Johnson at Oakes, North Dakota.  She grew up on the family farm west of Oakes, in Clement Township with her parents, 3 sisters and one brother.  She was baptized and confirmed at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in rural Oakes.  She attended rural grade school and graduated from Oakes High School in 1948.  She pursued her passion for caregiving and entered Mercy Hospital School of Nursing in Valley City, North Dakota.  Florence graduated as a Registered Nurse in August of 1951.  She moved to Lisbon, North Dakota, in 1952 and began her nursing career as a staff RN in the new Lisbon Memorial Hospital, where she also served as acting administrator for 3 months.  It was there she met Roger Dahlstrom.  Florence and Roger were married on June 27, 1954, and they moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota, where Florence worked as a staff nurse in the Obstetrical Department of Abbott Hospital.

In January of 1957, the couple moved to Milnor, North Dakota, where together as a team they would care for people and a community for many years, having established Dahlstrom Funeral Home and Ambulance Service.  In October of 1960, they opened Dahlstrom Skogmo Clothing Store.  Later an addition was built on the store, and they added a line of home furnishings.  The store was then known as Dahlstrom Clothing and Furniture.  They later sold the store to the Furman family and Mark bought the funeral home in 1992.

Florence’s faith was extremely important to her as she was active in various capacities in the Milnor Lutheran Church for many years.  She served on the Milnor Park board for 12 years, during which time the community park enlarged, the tennis court was built, a new football field finished, and Lakeview Golf Course was constructed.  She was instrumental in starting the Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts, serving as a board member and den mother for many years.  Florence served on the Advisory Board of St. Francis Hospital of Breckenridge, Minnesota, for 6 years, and was a team member of the Riveredge Hospice for 10 years.  She worked for the Ranson-Sargent Senior Services as a staff RN for 10 years.  Florence was the recipient of the Satellite Club Galaxy Award in 1984.  She and Roger also enjoyed their winter home in Mesa, Arizona for many years.  Florence loved her nursing and care projects, but amongst her proudest moments were delivering several local babies.  Her nursing legacy is secured by having 5 RNs in the family, carried on by her daughter in law Sheri, and her granddaughters, Kristin, Colette, Kari Jean, and Jordan.

Florene is survived by two sons and one daughter; Scott (Sheri) Dahlstrom of Scottsdale, Arizona, Mark Dahlstrom of Bismarck, North Dakota, and Susan (Scott) Maltese of Richfield, Minnesota.  She leaves behind 6 grandchildren: Kristin, Colette, Matthew, Adam, Kari Jean, and Jordan, along with 16 great grandchildren.  She was the last of her family and preceded in death by her husband Roger, her parents and 3 sisters, Ann, Ruth and Sylvia plus her brother Jack.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, November 3, 2023, at 2:00 PM in Milnor Lutheran Church.  Interment will be in the Milnor Lutheran Cemetery.  Visitation will be held one hour prior to services in the church.

A visitation will be held at Dahlstrom/Feist Funeral Home in Wishek on Thursday, November 2, 2023 from 5:00 to 7:00 PM.

Dahlstrom Funeral Home of Wishek is in charge of arrangements.