Florence Bernice Bird Obituary (1924 - 2013)

Florence Bernice Bird, age 89 of Menomonie, WI died Saturday, December 07, 2013 at The Neighbors Of Dunn County Nursing Home in Menomonie. Florence was born in St. Paul, MN on December 4, 1924, to Evert and Violet (Elmberg) Larson. Raised by her middle name, Bernice graduated from Wilson High School in St. Paul and went on to work for Harris & Co. as a seamstress for eighteen years. During this time Bernice and her girlfriends enjoyed many vacations together, journeying as far as the West Coast and Canada. She detailed her travels in carefully-kept journals and with an extensive collection of slides. In the 1950's, Bernice and her mother built a cabin on Big Pine Lake near Garrison, MN next door to her sister and family. They enjoyed hours of fishing and visiting with her nieces and nephews. While she enjoyed her bachelorette years, she always said she was going to marry a farmer. Through her supervisor, Florence met and married her farmer, Raymond Arthur Bird, on March 25, 1961. Florence joined Ray on his farm in Boyceville, WI where the two worked together for fifty years. She worked hard alongside Ray, and was just as likely as he to be driving the tractor, tending to the cows, raising chickens, and all other facets of maintaining of a successful farm. She enjoyed doing needlework, baking her famous pies and bars, and hosting relatives at the farm. Florence and Ray loved to play cards, watch football, and dine out, especially at the Downing Café. Florence was preceded in death by her parents; brother Vernon Evert Larson, sister Elaine Anna Larkey, and her loving husband Ray. She is survived by many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, and many friends. Funeral Services will take place at 12:00 Noon on Tuesday, December 10, 2013 at Olson Funeral Home in Menomonie with Pastor Tim Matthaei officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the funeral at the funeral home. Burial will follow at Sherman Cemetery, Sherman Township, Dunn County, WI. Olson Funeral Home of Menomonie is serving the family.