Florence Hedin

 Florence Hedin

 Florence Fly Sproul Wood Hedin, 79, passed away peacefully Jan. 14, 2011, at Brendan House after a brief illness.

She was born Dec. 10, 1931, in Los Angeles to Elmer and Madeline Fly. At 12, her family moved to Montana and lived on the Fly Ranch near Whitefish. She attended school in Whitefish and graduated from Whitefish High School.

She met and married Frank Sproul from Star Meadows in June 1949. There, they raised their four children until Frank’s death in 1969. She lived in the Bissell community and at Star Meadows while working as the activities director for Flathead County Nursing Home.

In July 1986 she married Harold Wood. After his death, she moved to Kalispell. In January 2005 she married Art Hedin. He passed away in August 2010.

Florence’s greatest joys were her family, line dancing, tending her flowers, involvement in Prime Timers, Stillwater Church and lunch and outings with “The Golden Girls.” Florence will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.

She was preceded in death by her parents; brother Bill Fly; sister Janet Sproul; brother-in-law Lewis Sproul; nephew Clyde Sproul; and husbands Frank Sproul, Harold Wood and Art Hedin.

She is survived by her son Richard Sproul and wife Julie, of Columbia Falls; daughters Ruthie Barnes and husband Ray, of Dillon, Jenny Thompson and husband Donny, of Kalispell, Jolene Woldstad and husband Dave, of Somers; stepdaughters Jan Thacker, of Alaska, Judy Harmon, of Idaho, and Becky O’Donnall, of Missoula; sisters Leola Trexler, of California, and Ellen Cleveland, of Delaware; brother Elmer Fly and wife Barbara, of Washington; eight grandchildren; and 14 great grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at Buffalo Hill Funeral Home on Wednesday, Jan. 19,  at 2 p.m. with the Rev. Tim Bartholomew officiating.

The family suggests memorials be made to Stillwater Lutheran Church and Home Options Hospice.