Florence Sutherland, 98
On Oct. 20, 2020, Florence Sutherland passed away at the age of 98.5 years.
She was born Jan. 25, 1922, in Conrad, Montana, the daughter of Ida Clementina Pauli Fowler and Walter Fowler, and the oldest of seven siblings, Clark (Lorraine) Flower, Jim (Barbara) Fowler, Virginia “Ginger” (Jim) Todd, Bill (Rosemary) Fowler, Tom (Kay) Fowler, Dick (Arla) Fowler, and Mary (Dale) Inabnit.
She married Bill Sutherland on April 1942 in Conrad. Bill left for service in the Air Force in July of 1942 and Florence joined him in Texas that September.
The next two years Florence followed Bill to the states of Texas, California (Inglewood) and Florida. Florence came to Kalispell in 1945 to get her sister Ginger to go back to Tampa, Florida. At the time Florence worked at Moss Brothers as a Germaine Monte representative in Florida. However, she never left the Flathead Valley. She stayed in Kalispell and waited for Bill, who was serving in India and China until April 28, 1946. Bill joined Florence in Kalispell and purchased Hansen Dry Cleaners. It was soon renamed Sutherland Cleaners.
Florence and Bill were lifelong members of St. Matthew’s Parish in Kalispell.
Florence enjoyed family and friends throughout her life. Along with being a full-time homemaker and bookkeeper for the business, Florence enjoyed playing in three bridge clubs, duplicate bridge, skiing, and volunteering at the hospital and as a remedial reading tutor at St. Matthew’s School. One of her proud and important achievements was that she was a founding member of the first women’s stock club in the state of Montana and they called themselves the “Money Mad Mothers.”
She is survived by some four children, 12 grandchildren and 29 great-grandchildren. The children are Sister Shari Sutherland (Cedar Rapids, Iowa), Greg (Raelene) Sutherland (Puyallup, Washington), Steve (Cris) Sutherland (Whitefish), Judi (Doug) LaCroix and son-in-law Mike Tronstad of Kalispell. Her grandchildren are Tara (Steve) Thomas, Amy Kortus, Nathan (Anna) Sutherland, Nicole (Justin) Pavey, Kelsey (Doug) Richabaugh, Bryan (Lusha) Tronstad, Michelle (Dan) Hodge, Kory (Matt) Sutherland, Bree Sutherland, Justin (Leigh Ann) LaCroix, Jennifer (Ethen) Long, and Jacob (Rebekah) LaCroix. Florence was preceded in death by her husband Bill Sutherland, daughter Vicky Tronstad, daughter-in-law Brith Sutherland, and great-grandsons Everett Tronstad, Daniel Sutherland and Emmett LaCroix.
The family wishes to thank Mike Tronstad for his vigilant care of Florence these past years; to her neighbors, Sandra, Jeannie and Shirley, who helped and kept an eye on her; Rochelle, Mary Ellen and Randy, who have helped care for her this past month; Loretta, who came many a Saturday to make sure her hair was fixed and in place; and family friends Ann Johnson, Ph.D. and Maurice Johnson, M.D.
Graveside services will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23, at C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery.
To send a note of condolence to the family, please visit www.buffalohillfh.com. Buffalo Hill Funeral Home and Crematory is assisting the family.