Florence Dammel King was born at the Kolnitcher Mid-Wife home in Geraldine, Montana on February 20, 1922, the seventh, and last child, of Immanuel and Alta Dammel. She died on August 2, 2017, in Littleton, Colorado where she lived after suffering a stroke in 2012.

Florence was raised on a ranch north of Geraldine. She attended Sunnyside School, a one-room school, for eight years before graduating from Geraldine High School in 1939. She married Melvin (Jack) King in 1941 and they lived in Cutbank, Montana, where Jack worked in the oil fields. After Jack was drafted into the Army, Florence moved back to Geraldine. Her first child, Lester Linwood (Lindy), was born in Fort Benton and the two of them moved to San Francisco to live with her parents. While in San Francisco, she worked at the Bank of America.

After her husband, Jack, was discharged from the Army, the family moved to a farm on Square Butte Bench. Florence raised four children on that farm in addition to putting in many hours cleaning the house, cooking three meals a day, baking bread, churning butter, and doing all of the other tasks that farm women did in those days. While on the farm, she helped organize and lead a 4-H Club and a Home Demonstration Club. When her son, Linwood, entered high school, the family moved to Geraldine so he could attend Geraldine High School. When school was out in the spring, the family would move back to the farm. Eventually, they stayed in town the whole year and Jack "commuted" to the farm.

Florence worked in the First National Bank in Geraldine for a number of years and then became owner of a beauty shop and liquor store. She served on the Geraldine City Council and was a member of the Chouteau County Fair Board.

In 1985, Florence and Jack retired from farming and moved to Fort Benton. Florence spent many hours golfing at the Signal Point Golf Course in Fort Benton and spent as many hours bowling with her team at a local bowling alley. Unfortunately, she had to give up both sports after having a stroke at the age of 90. Florence enjoyed traveling, sewing, crocheting, and gardening. But her first love, and life-long passion, was reading. It was not unusual for her to read two or three books a week, and up until the end, she kept a detailed log of the books she read.  Even after her eyesight faltered, she listened to books on tape.

Florence is survived by her 97 year old sister, Clara Alley, of Fort Collins, Colorado. She is also survived by three children: Tom King of Missoula, Montana, Janet Jordan of Highlands Ranch, Colorado, and Gayle Hane of Kennewick, Washington. She has two sons-in-law, Bob Jordan and Dan Hane, who survive her as well. In addition, she has two surviving granddaughters, Jennifer Jordan of West Yellowstone, Montana, and Ashley Bruck of Spokane, Washington.

She was preceded in death by her father and mother, Immanuel and Alta Dammel, as well as her siblings: Elmer Dammel, Tom Dammel, Rudolph Dammel, Opal Corn, and Louise Downes. Her son, Linwood, and her husband, Jack, preceded her in death, too.

In lieu of flowers please donate to the Montana Talking Book Library ( www.tbl.msl.mt.gov ) in the name of Florence Dammel King.

A graveside memorial service for Florence and her son, Linwood, will be held on September 23, 2017, at 1:00 P.M. at the Fort Benton Cemetery. An open house will follow, from 2:00-4:00 P. M. at the Ag Center in Fort Benton. Benton Funeral Home has been entrusted with services and arrangements. Please visit Florence's online memorial page and leave a message of condolence for her family at www.bentonfh.com.