Florence Espeseth

Florence Lorane (Messelt) Espeseth, the third daughter born to Ole and Agnes (Hogenson) Messelt, died Monday, January 26, 2015, at the age of 93. Florence was born October 23, 1921, and was raised on the family farm with six brothers and sisters. Florence was united in marriage to Wallace Olson on May 30, 1942. The couple moved to Detroit, MI, for employment in the Ford Plant. After WWII began, the Ford Plant was closed and re-opened as an airplane factory. Wally was drafted into service and Florence became one of the thousands of wives to go to work for the war effort. She was a "Rosy the Riveter". She riveted airplane wings until she moved back to Winger to be close to family for the birth of their first child. On October 6, 1944, Florence gave birth to her daughter, Nancy, and five days later her husband, Wally, was killed in an airplane crash in Australia. To support her daughter and herself, she went to work at the Winger Bank. She worked there until she remarried on June 14, 1947, to Kenneth Espeseth. They moved into their first home in Winger and began their family by adding two sons, Kent and Kyle. They later moved into Kenneth's grandmother’s former home in Winger. Kenneth and Florence were very involved with their grandchildren's lives. They gave some their first plane trip, took many of them on road trips as far as the Black Hills, and babysat for many years whenever needed. They were the perfect grandparents and parents. Florence was very involved in Calvary Lutheran Church and generously volunteered her time and labor for many years. She was also active on the school board and with several other community activities. In 2000, they moved to Moorhead, MN, to be closer to family and medical help. She was a master of organization and would host large groups of family and friends at their new home in Moorhead. Florence is preceded in death by two husbands; one daughter-in-law, Marsha; her parents; both sets of in-laws, Ole and Emma Olson and Albert and Clara Espeseth one sister, Beulah Solie; two brothers, Orville (Carol) Messelt & Myron Messelt. She is survived by daughter, Nancy (Russ) Hagen of Moorhead, MN; sons Kent (Karen) of Lake Park, MN, and Kyle (Marie) of Moorhead; 10 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren; and one great-great grandchild; one sister, Aileen Olson, St. Paul, MN; two brothers, Jim (Sharon)Messelt of North Branch, MN, and Roy Messelt of Roseville, MN; three sisters-in-law: Joy Ann Espeseth of Winger, Darlene Messelt of Columbia Heights, MN, and Doris Olson also of Winger. A celebration of life service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 9, 2015 at Calvary Lutheran Church, Winger, MN. A Time of Gathering will be held one hour prior to the service at the church. Inurnment will be held in the Calvary Lutheran Cemetery, Winger. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Calvary Lutheran Church or Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (a favorite charity of Florence's).

Florence Espeseth

October 23, 1921 - January 26, 2015