Florence Kirkpatrick

Mass of Christian Burial for Florence (Coash) (Fischer) Kirkpatrick, 93, was held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, February 8, 2025, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Winner, SD, with Fr. Zane Pekron officiating. Tom Stevens was lector, and Valerie Stevens served as the extraordinary minister of the Holy Eucharist. Music was provided by Mary Elder, pianist with cantors Janette Shippy and Randy Donovan. Khloe Briggs and Jackson Grossenburg were altar servers. Guestbook attendants were Addison Hemingway and Karlie Gehm. Heather Wagner and Breanna Westland were flower attendants.

Pall bearers were Jace Crane, Zaden Crane-Camp, Cory Fischer, Corey Messer, Christopher McCormick, and Easton Hemingway.

Burial followed in the Winner Catholic Cemetery. Mason Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Florence Ann Coash was born April 22, 1931, to David and Anna (Novotny) Coash on a farm west of Winner, SD. She was the youngest of their two children. Florence attended school at St. Mary’s, Sunnyside, and graduated from Winner High School in 1950. Florence married Ivan Oscar Fischer on October 18, 1952, in a joint wedding with her sister; Mildred (Coash) and Bennie Brozik. The union was blessed with nine children—Roger, Robert, Cynthia, Carol, Diane, Russell, Denise, Crystal, and Darla. Ivan passed away suddenly in 1984, and Florence later married Donald Lee Kirkpatrick of Gregory, SD, in 1987. Don passed away in 2012.

During the early years of her marriage to Ivan, Florence worked as a dispatcher for the Winner Sheriff’s office. She needed to leave this employer to take on the new title and role of mom. After Ivan’s death, Florence returned to school at Sinte Gleska University. During this time she worked at the extension office helping individuals learn to cook with their commodities, at the Job Service with the Rent-A-Kid program, and at Southeast Behavioral Health Care. After graduating, Florence became a bookkeeper for John A Carlson Construction in Winner, SD, where she was employed until her retirement.

Florence was very active in 4-H and the local quilters guild. She was a faithful member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church and active in Catholic Daughters. Florence enjoyed dancing, polka, circle two-step, waltzing, and square dancing. She also enjoyed having morning coffee with her friends and serving the community.

Florence’s greatest joy was spending time with her children, 16 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren, and all the “adopted” children who came into her life; no child was turned away, whether they moved in for a year or two, stayed with her for the summer, or just visited on the holidays.

Florence Kirkpatrick, 93, passed away on Saturday, February 1, 2025, at the Seven Sisters Living Center in Hot Springs, SD.

She is preceded in death by her parents Anna and David Coash, sister Mildred Brozik, spouses Ivan Fischer and Donald Kirkpatrick, special friend Wayne Bortz, daughters Crystal Westland, Cynthia McCormick, and granddaughter Casey Crane.

Florence is survived by children Roger (Linda Leonhard) Fischer of Belle Fourche, Robert (Yvonne Mitchell) Fischer of Hot Springs, Carol (Greg) Evans of Pierre, Diane (Steve) Lorenz of Bottineau, ND, Russell (Susan) Fischer of Dandridge, TN, Denise (Douglas) Kirkpatrick of Dell Rapids, and Darla (Aaron) Hemingway of Pringle; grandchildren Andrea (Aaron) Campbell, Angela (Kenny) Brown, Brandy (Corey) Messer, Misty Fischer, Chelsey Fischer, Marcella (Kirby) Johnson, Cory (Michelle) Fischer, Jessica (Betty) McCormick, Breanna Westland, Christopher McCormick, Karlie (Austin) Gehm, Kaylee Fischer, Heather (Tristen) Wagner, and Addison and Easton Hemingway; great-grandchildren Dylan, Devin, and Marrisa Brown, Jace and Zaden Crane, Joselyn and Dominic Fischer, Jackson and Tyler Trant, Riley and Reese Messer, Dalton and Faith Campbell, Skyla, Antares, and Kasey Fischer, Amaura Old Lodge, Adelynn Odel, Lincoln Fischer, Raelyn, Kinley, and Rylee Johnson, Bob McCormick (son-in-law), and all of her “adopted” children.