Florence Sophia Peck

Prisa gud!  Praise be to God!

Florence Sophia Jones Peck, 98 years old, passed away quietly at home on January 16, 2020 in Aurora, Colorado. Florence was born June 8, 1921 to Christina and Franz Lindgren in rural Pocahontas County, Laurens, Iowa. She grew up on a farm there with her first language being Swedish. She attended a one-room country school for eight years where she learned to speak English. After her father passed away, her mother remarried in 1933 to Andrew Johnson and they moved to a farm in Swede Bend near Stratford, Iowa. 

Florence married Albert Oliver (A.O.) Jones in 1939 and they lived on his farm near Stratford, Iowa. After Albert's death in 1963, Florence enrolled in the American Institute of Business (AIB) in Des Moines, Iowa and graduated in November 1965 with a business degree. In 1966, she married H. Spencer Peck, a banker and insurance agent, and moved to his home in Sharpsburg, Iowa.  They moved to Bella Vista, Arkansas in 1974 and lived there until 1985 when they relocated to Denver, Colorado. 

Traveling was a love of both Florence and Spencer and they traveled to all 50 states and many countries throughout the world.  She took leadership roles in the churches she attended, serving in various capacities. In Denver, she participated as a Stephen Minister for several years. She always liked to sew and sewed many garments to wear, as well as being passionate about making quilts. Other interests included knitting, making ceramics, playing the electric organ and square and round dancing.  Florence was also involved in fraternal organizations where she assumed various leadership positions in the Order of Eastern Star, Daughters of the Nile and P.E.O.  She was also active in the Swedish Club of Denver and Republican Women's Clubs.

Florence is remembered by her family and others who loved her as a woman of strong character who carefully documented her Swedish immigrant family history and was diligent about passing these stories along for generations to come to enjoy. Through the years she shared her love of the Swedish language and culture by teaching Swedish classes.

Florence is preceded in death by her parents, both husbands and one granddaughter.  She is survived by three daughters, Dorothy Jones of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Helen Jones of Laurel, Maryland and LaVonne Lydin of Aurora, Colorado; two granddaughters and spouses of Denver, Colorado, Michelle (Ben) Schmeltzer and Nicole (Augusto) de Lima and one great grandson, Landon Schmeltzer.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, January 25, 9:30 am, at Schroeder-Stark-Welin Funeral Home, 609 - 7th Street, Boone, Iowa. A memorial service follows at 10:30 am.  A graveside service will be held at 12 pm (noon) at the South Marion Cemetery, County Road R27, Stratford, Iowa (west side of road).

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