Florine “Flo” (Gassert) Van, 87, of Kalispell, passed away September 10th at Kalispell Regional Medical Center.
Florine Mae Gassert was born on June 30, 1933, in Livingston, Montana, to Charles and Florine Gassert. She attended schools in Gardiner, Livingston, Columbia Falls, and graduated from Flathead High in Kalispell. Florine married John Van on August 1st, 1953. They lived in Alabama briefly while John served in the United States Air Force before returning to Kalispell. Together, they were active in many community programs. She was a Den Mother for the Girl Scouts, and was involved in Kalispell Pee-wee baseball, Babe Ruth baseball, and the Kalispell Lakers for many years. She did everything from keeping score, running the concession stand, painting fences, and mending skinned knees. She worked as a legal secretary at Korn, Walterskirchen, and Warden for several years. After her retirement, she still kept busy. Florine and John raised llamas for many years, showing them at the fair, and even hiked into Stanton Lake with them. She was a member of the Flathead Valley Jazz Society and treasurer for the Flathead Jazz Stampede for numerous years. Florine was also a member and officer of the Kalispell Eagles. She spent many evenings in the Eagles kitchen cooking and prepping for monthly dinners and various special events. On Sundays you could find her volunteering at Bingo. Florine and John loved the Bigfork Inn and would go there many Friday and Saturday nights for dinner and dancing. Florine touched many lives and will be dearly missed by friends, acquaintances, and family.
Florine was preceded in death by her loving husband John, parents Charles and Florine, brother Robert, and sister Margaret.
She is survived by her children, Marlene Linstead (Rex), Chuck Van (Wendy), Jack Van (Tara), and Ted Van (Tanya), in addition to many grandchildren, great grandchildren, and a great-great granddaughter .
A celebration of life will be held at a later date.
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