Florence Sommerer

Mass of Christian Burial for Florence Sommerer, 95, of Marshall, formerly of Canby, will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, September 21, 2024, at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Marshall. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service, 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m., at the church. Interment will take place at St. Peter’s Catholic Cemetery in Canby. A livestream and recording of the service will be available at www.holy-redeemer.com.

Florence (Hentges) Sommerer was born on September 11, 1928, to Leo and Theresa Hentges in Canby, Minnesota. She was baptized, received first communion, and was confirmed at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Canby. She attended primary and secondary school in Canby graduating in 1946. Florence then went on to take a secretarial course in Minneapolis, MN focused on the airline industry. Upon completion of the program, she obtained a position at National Airlines in New York City where she worked both in the city office and at LaGuardia field. She continued in the secretarial field working for medical offices in Denver, CO and several companies including Shell Oil Corp. in Los Angeles, CA. 

In 1962 she returned to Canby where she worked for her brother Ralph, owner of Independent Oil, Co. for ten years. She completed her work years serving 20 years at Canby VoTech (now Minnesota West Community & Technical College) retiring in 1995. In 2011 she moved to Hill Street Place, in Marshall MN where she lived until her passing.

Florence was a lifelong member of the Catholic Church where she served as the Organist (St. Peter’s in Canby) for over 20 years and volunteered in numerous areas.

Florence enjoyed travel throughout her life, including a summer in Hawai’i before it was a state. After retirement she took numerous trips visiting her son and daughter in-law in Florida, Pennsylvania, California, Las Vegas and Arizona. She especially enjoyed Bingo games, crosswords, garage sales, and played many versions of Solitaire. 

Florence died on June 21, 2024, at the Avera Marshall Regional Medical Center in Marshall.

Florence is survived by: son, Shaun (Debra) Sommerer, Henderson, Nevada; sister, Bonnie Genzlinger, Edina, Minnesota; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by: parents, Leo and Theresa Hentges, brother, Ralph Hentges, and her sisters, Ardell Redder and Leona Dunn.

Flowers are welcome, but you may wish to consider a donation in Florence’s name to either of the following: the Avera Marshall Regional Medical Center (at averafoundation.org) or Holy Redeemer Catholic School (at holyredeemerschools.com).