Florence N Kucera

Florence Doris Kucera passed away peacefully on March 19, 2017.  A funeral service will be held at 10:30 am Monday, March 27, at House of Prayer Lutheran Church, 1470 S Washington St., Bismarck, with Rev. Joel Samuelson officiating. Burial will be held at 2:00 pm Monday at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan. Visitation will be held from 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm Sunday, March 26, at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Parkway, Bismarck, where a prayer service will begin at 4:00 pm. Florence was born on October 4, 1927, in Werner, ND, to Gonvald and Louise Nodland.  She grew up in the Dunn Center area with her parents, 6 sisters and 1 brother.  She went to grade school at Werner and graduated from school in 1946.  She got her teaching degree and taught at Eagle Nest Country School in Dunn County for one year.  She then moved to Dickinson, where she worked at the Woolworths food counter and was known for her amazing pies.  It was there in Dickinson, where she met the love of her life, Gordon.  They were introduced through her sister Grace and husband Ben Zastoupil, as Gordon and Ben were working together at that time. They were married on June 1, 1952, at Vang Lutheran Church, south of Dunn Center, ND.  They moved to Perham, MN where Gordon had a job.  Gordon worked on road construction and Florence traveled with him.  Many times she and another lady would make meals for the men on the construction crew.   In 1958, they bought a new home and settled in Bismarck where they have lived ever since.  Florence started working at the JC Penney’s in Bismarck in the early 1960’s and worked there for over 30 years, mostly in the infants & children’s department much to the delight of all the children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Florence’s pride and joy were her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  She loved them all so deeply and would do anything for them.  Florence had many hobbies.  She loved gardening, baking pastries and quilting.  Her kuchen, pies and Swedish tea rings are well-known.  She was a great (and lucky) pinochle player!!  The grandchildren who played wanted to be on her team because she usually won!  Her garden was always weed-free and the vegetables were lush and well-tended.  She never let anything go to waste and canned and cooked to perfection.   She made many quilts for House of Prayer Church, working a few hours most days producing about 90 quilts each year.  She lovingly sewed and ironed them.  She always hoped that they would bring joy and warmth to the people who received them.   Florence was always grateful for everything she had.  She was a hard worker.  She was very faithful and prayerful. When something happened, she always said, she could do something; she could pray and we witnessed how effective her prayers were! She loved to visit and have visitors.  There was always coffee and something special in her freezer she would pull out when anyone came to the house.  No visitor ever left her home hungry!  She also had a great sense of humor.   Florence is held in fondest memories by her husband of 65 years, Gordon; her children, Wesley (Elaine) Kucera, Bismarck and Susan (Dan) Connor, Scottsdale, Arizona;  her grandchildren, Erica (Josh) Jost, Fargo, Chelsea (Cameo) Hall, Mesa, AZ, William (Sarah) Kucera, Bismarck and Thomas (Katie) Steiner, Parker, Colorado and 8 precious great-grandchildren, Madeline, Cainen, Clark, Chance, Lincoln, Eli, Nathanial, and Walker; her sister, Rose Marie (Dolly) Nickel, Dickinson; brother, George (Kayleen) Nodland, Dickinson; and sister-in-law, Helen (Richard) Weinmann.  She was preceded in death by her parents, Louise and Gonvald Nodland; and sisters Arleen, Rosella, Grace and Marlys. Memorials may be given to the House of Prayer Lutheran Church Memorial Fund, 1470 S. Washington St., Bismarck, ND, 58504.