Florence Benoit

Florence Mary Jane Benoit, age eighty-something, of Gentilly, MN died peacefully at Villa St. Vincent in Crookston MN on Wednesday March 2, 2016, surrounded by her family. She was T-I-R-E-D. Visitation will be Friday, March 4 at Stenshoel-Houske Funeral Home in Crookston from 5:00 to 7:00 PM with a prayer service at 7:00. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at11:00 on Saturday, March 5 at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Gentilly, with visitation an hour before the funeral. Burial will be in the Gentilly cemetery. Florence "Flossie" was born April 2, 1926 in Breckenridge, MN to John and Marie (Staples) Friederichs. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Breckenridge, graduated from Breckenridge High School in 1944. She then joined the United States Cadet Nursing Corps at St. Michael's School of Nursing in Grand Forks and became an RN. She was united in marriage to Raymond Benoit at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Foxhome, MN on June 21, 1950. They lived in Gentilly until moving into Crookston in 2015. Florence was organist and choir director at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Gentilly for over 50 years. She was a member of Catholic Daughters, St Anne's Sodality, and served on the Diocesan Liturgical Commission. She sang for many years in the Crookston Oratorio, also organized and accompanied a women's singing group that entertained many in the area. She was very active and loved mowing her own lawn into her eighties. A challenging crossword puzzle was her favorite thing, cooking was not! Grateful to have shared in Florence's life are her 8 children, 27 grandchildren and 41 great-grandchildren: Diane (Paul) Gratton of Fargo; Jill, Carly. Kathy (Gary) Shulstad of Halstad; Gerry, Meg, Nick, Andy, Will. Nancy (Greg) Searle of Eagan: Jennifer, Michael. Jane (Ervin) Vigness of Nielsville; Rachel, Marie, Pete, Aaron, Rose, Jacob, Elisabeth. Brian (Laurie) Benoit of Crookston; Cheriese, Travis, Henry. Greg (Joyce) Benoit of Crookston; Jason, Lisa, Jeff. Neal (Beth) Benoit of Crookston; Katie, Jenna. Brenda (Mario) Ruberto of St. Michael; Britta, Dane, Seth. Florence leaves three sisters, Marguerite Petersen, Mary (Vernon) Spartz, Theresa Rick four brothers, Lyle (Sarah) Nelson, Paul (Mary) Friederichs, Mike Friederichs, Tom (Judy) Friederichs. She also leaves her sisters-in-law Darlene Benoit, Elaine Friederichs, June Nelson, Rosie Laughlin, and brother-in-law Ray Hiedeman. Preceding her in death are her parents, her husband Ray in October 2015, one sister Julia Hiedeman and five brothers, Wallace, Bill, Pete, and Gilbert Friederichs, and Dale Nelson, sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Dona Friederichs, Jo Nelson, Dale Petersen, Carl Klein and Cy Benoit. In lieu of flowers, gifts of remembrance may be given to the St. Peter's Catholic Church Restoration Fund.

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Florence Benoit Memorial Folder

















Funeral Home: Stenshoel-Houske Funeral & Cremation Service 615 South Minnesota Street Crookston, MN US 56716

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Previous Events

Visitation
Friday, March 4, 2016
Service
Saturday, March 5, 2016
cemetery
Saturday, March 5, 2016