1928
Grace
2017
Grace Flowers
June 16, 1928 — February 9, 2017
Grace Ardis Marie (Lindquist) Flowers, 88, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and sister, passed away on Feb. 9 in Albert Lea, her home of nearly 60 years.
Born in 1928, in Bernadette Township, Minn., Grace was the fifth of twelve children by Albert and Helmine (Redning) Lindquist. Her strength and character were shaped early in life when, at the age of four, Grace contracted polio, requiring a four-month quarantine from her siblings. With the care and dedication of her parents, who exercised her legs daily to prevent paralysis, Grace healed and went on to lead a normal life. A 1946 graduate of St. Peter High School who also attended Mankato Commercial College, Grace took the hard-earned wisdom of challenges overcome into the working world, where her jobs—ranging from a telephone operator at Northwestern Bell Company in St. Peter to the department head of the candy and school aisle at Gibson's Discount Center/Pamida—were marked by diligence, dedication, and life-long friendships. After her retirement from Gibson's/Pamida, "Gracie," as she was known by family and friends alike, continued to meet for coffee with the "Pamida Girls."
Perseverance and strong bonds also marked the story of Grace's family life. On Sept. 14th, 1949, Grace married Charles Flowers Jr., with whom they had five children during their twelve years of marriage (they later divorced): Debbie, Michelle, Wendy, Sheryl and Terry. Her children were her life, and, as a single mother, she devoted her life to raising them on her own, all without the help of social services. Even after her children had grown, Grace made time to be there for her children when they needed a helping hand with babies, making dinners and washing and folding clothes.
Ever the proud grandmother of 19 grandchildren, "Grandma Grace," "Gram" or "Grandma Pooh," as they affectionately called her, relished attending their many school sports, high school musicals, plays, confirmations, graduations and weddings. They will all miss her affection and devotion to them, a love epitomized by the yearly birthday cards she sent, their colored envelopes seemingly timed to appear before any other birthday cards. Grace loved baking—her specialty were snicker-doodle cookies, sweet breads and peanut butter bars, which she would have ready for visitors or for special care-packages sent to her grandchildren in college. She also enjoyed reading cookbooks for recipe ideas. Grace was also an expert on the weather, a topic that would begin every conversation, email, or card. She made her final years at Senior Court and Oak Park Assisted Living, where she kept the staff busy with her humor, her opinions, and stories about her family.
While Grace considered herself simple and humble, her impact on family and friends was anything but: she will be remembered for her gentleness, thoughtfulness, caring personality and, most importantly, her love for all of them. Grace is survived by her five children: Deborah (Michael) Sturm, of Farmington, Minn.; Michelle (David) Dudley, of Lakeville, Minn.; Wendy (Craig) Sigurdson, of Neillsville, Wis; Sheryl Olson, of Albert Lea; and Terry (Joyce) Flowers, of Rochester, Minn. Her 19 grandchildren and 23 great grandchildren. And though they lived far apart, Grace was surrounded by the love of her siblings up to her death: Arlene Lindquist, of St. Peter, MN; Clarice Ziebarth, of Le Sueuer, MN; Willis Lindquist, of St. Peter, MN; Donna Chommie, of Bismark, N.D.; Dennis (Carol) Lindquist, of Apple Valley, CA; and Ann Marie (James) Samson, of Riverside CA; and many nieces and nephews, all of whom were very important to her.
Grace is preceded in death by her parents and ex-husband, as well as her siblings Maurine Lindquist, Doris Larson, Kenneth Lindquist, Millie Rommel, and Stanley Lindquist.
Family and friends will gather to celebrate Grace's life, and the impact she had on them, at a visitation on Sunday, Feb. 12, from 3 to 6 p.m. at Bonnerup Funeral Home in Albert Lea. Her funeral will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church in Albert Lea on Monday, Feb. 13 at 10:30 a.m., with visitation one hour prior. A luncheon will follow. She will be buried along side her mother and father at Swan Lake Cemetery, in rural St. Peter, Minn. Burial will be at 3:00 p.m.
Her family extends special thanks to all individuals at Oak Park Place and Hospice who cared for Grace in her final days.
Born in 1928, in Bernadette Township, Minn., Grace was the fifth of twelve children by Albert and Helmine (Redning) Lindquist. Her strength and character were shaped early in life when, at the age of four, Grace contracted polio, requiring a four-month quarantine from her siblings. With the care and dedication of her parents, who exercised her legs daily to prevent paralysis, Grace healed and went on to lead a normal life. A 1946 graduate of St. Peter High School who also attended Mankato Commercial College, Grace took the hard-earned wisdom of challenges overcome into the working world, where her jobs—ranging from a telephone operator at Northwestern Bell Company in St. Peter to the department head of the candy and school aisle at Gibson's Discount Center/Pamida—were marked by diligence, dedication, and life-long friendships. After her retirement from Gibson's/Pamida, "Gracie," as she was known by family and friends alike, continued to meet for coffee with the "Pamida Girls."
Perseverance and strong bonds also marked the story of Grace's family life. On Sept. 14th, 1949, Grace married Charles Flowers Jr., with whom they had five children during their twelve years of marriage (they later divorced): Debbie, Michelle, Wendy, Sheryl and Terry. Her children were her life, and, as a single mother, she devoted her life to raising them on her own, all without the help of social services. Even after her children had grown, Grace made time to be there for her children when they needed a helping hand with babies, making dinners and washing and folding clothes.
Ever the proud grandmother of 19 grandchildren, "Grandma Grace," "Gram" or "Grandma Pooh," as they affectionately called her, relished attending their many school sports, high school musicals, plays, confirmations, graduations and weddings. They will all miss her affection and devotion to them, a love epitomized by the yearly birthday cards she sent, their colored envelopes seemingly timed to appear before any other birthday cards. Grace loved baking—her specialty were snicker-doodle cookies, sweet breads and peanut butter bars, which she would have ready for visitors or for special care-packages sent to her grandchildren in college. She also enjoyed reading cookbooks for recipe ideas. Grace was also an expert on the weather, a topic that would begin every conversation, email, or card. She made her final years at Senior Court and Oak Park Assisted Living, where she kept the staff busy with her humor, her opinions, and stories about her family.
While Grace considered herself simple and humble, her impact on family and friends was anything but: she will be remembered for her gentleness, thoughtfulness, caring personality and, most importantly, her love for all of them. Grace is survived by her five children: Deborah (Michael) Sturm, of Farmington, Minn.; Michelle (David) Dudley, of Lakeville, Minn.; Wendy (Craig) Sigurdson, of Neillsville, Wis; Sheryl Olson, of Albert Lea; and Terry (Joyce) Flowers, of Rochester, Minn. Her 19 grandchildren and 23 great grandchildren. And though they lived far apart, Grace was surrounded by the love of her siblings up to her death: Arlene Lindquist, of St. Peter, MN; Clarice Ziebarth, of Le Sueuer, MN; Willis Lindquist, of St. Peter, MN; Donna Chommie, of Bismark, N.D.; Dennis (Carol) Lindquist, of Apple Valley, CA; and Ann Marie (James) Samson, of Riverside CA; and many nieces and nephews, all of whom were very important to her.
Grace is preceded in death by her parents and ex-husband, as well as her siblings Maurine Lindquist, Doris Larson, Kenneth Lindquist, Millie Rommel, and Stanley Lindquist.
Family and friends will gather to celebrate Grace's life, and the impact she had on them, at a visitation on Sunday, Feb. 12, from 3 to 6 p.m. at Bonnerup Funeral Home in Albert Lea. Her funeral will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church in Albert Lea on Monday, Feb. 13 at 10:30 a.m., with visitation one hour prior. A luncheon will follow. She will be buried along side her mother and father at Swan Lake Cemetery, in rural St. Peter, Minn. Burial will be at 3:00 p.m.
Her family extends special thanks to all individuals at Oak Park Place and Hospice who cared for Grace in her final days.
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