Florence Beata (Wohlschlegel) Black

Florence Beata (Wohlschlegel) Black was born on July 12, 1929, in Idaho Falls, Idaho, and passed away in Billings, Montana, on Dec. 13, 2023, after a wonderful life of 94 years.

The first child of Albert Lee Sr. and Hazel (Christensen) Wohlschlegel, Florence grew up in Idaho Falls, where her parents owned and operated the Yellowstone Dairy. As a young woman, Florence helped her parents and brothers make cheese and enjoyed family card games.

Following her graduation from Idaho Falls High School in 1947, Florence attended the University of Idaho, where she was an English major and a member of the Alpha Chi Omega sorority. It was during her junior year, in the spring of 1950, that she went on a blind date with a California-born forestry and ROTC student named John Black. It was love from the start and, after a year’s courtship, John and Florence were married on March 3, 1951, at First Presbyterian Church in Idaho Falls. Family and friends often commented that the 66 years John and Florence spent together prior to his passing in 2017 “seemed like one wonderful honeymoon.”

The summer of 1951 found the newlyweds college graduates and John commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army beginning what would turn out to be a 30-year career. Florence was the consummate hostess and army wife. She taught Sunday School, was an avid bridge player, and volunteered for many years with the American Red Cross, including as the chairman of blood drives in four different states.

She and John moved over 30 times and Florence never complained but looked forward to the new people and adventures their next duty station would hold. The job she loved the most, and at which she excelled, was as a mother. She was a kind, loving and caring person who always encouraged her children to be accepting of others, do their best at every task and to live their lives with dignity, faith and grace.

After John retired in 1977, he and Florence returned to Idaho Falls, where Florence joined the Idaho Falls Bridge Club, achieving the rank of Silver Life Master. In retirement, Florence also took up golf and continued to volunteer with the American Red Cross and enjoyed helping out at St. Luke’s Soup Kitchen.

Florence became a grandmother six times, treasuring the time she spent with her grandchildren. She knitted each of them a special Christmas stocking and cherished the trips she and John took them on during the summer they turned 9.

In 2010, John and Florence left Idaho Falls after three decades and moved to Mission Ridge in Billings. While in Billings, Florence joined PEO chapter AE and became an avid consumer of the audio books provided by the Billings Public Library and the Montana Talking Book Service.

In addition to her beloved husband John, she was preceded in death by her parents, Albert and Hazel Wohlschlegel; her half-sister, Lauralee Wohlschlegel; and her brother, Albert “Bert” Wohlschlegel Jr.

She is survived by her children, John (Debi), Susan Barton and Allen (Pat); grandchildren John Black, Sarah Gombotz (Steve), Jed Barton, Katie Barton-Head (Justin), Jordan Black and Hannah Lasseigne (Cody); and great-grandchildren Stephen Fennell, Journey Black, Daphney Black and Liam Lasseigne; brother Robert Wohlschlegel (Bonnie); and many treasured nephews, nieces, grandnieces, grandnephews, great-grandnieces and great-grandnephews.

The family is grateful to the staff of the Vista at St. John’s United and RiverStone Health Hospice as well as Dr. Fran Argani for the support and care they provided our Mom/Grandma during her final days.

A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 28, at Mayflower Congregational United Church of Christ, 2940 Poly Drive in Billings. Inurnment will be at 10 a.m. Friday, Dec. 29, at Yellowstone National Cemetery in Laurel, where she will rest alongside her beloved John.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Mayflower Congregational UCC, RiverStone Health Hospice, (123 S. 27th St., Billings, MT 59101) or to your local animal shelter.