Florence Montz

Florence Montz, 82, Bismarck, died February 7, 2007 at a Bismarck nursing home. A memorial service will be held at 3:00 pm Friday at Zion Lutheran Church, Bismarck, with the Rev. Tom Marcis officiating. There will be no visitation as cremation has taken place. Florence Stolte Montz was born on June 7, 1924, on a farm outside of Lowden, in eastern Iowa. Florence attended Trinity Lutheran School, graduated from Lowden High School and received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Iowa. Bob C.R. Montz, a young man from her community, was also studying there to become a doctor. The two married in 1947, had two children, Jennifer and Fredrick Rick and moved to Bismarck in 1955. Throughout her career, Florence successfully combined her nursing and religious passions by offering her medical and leadership skills to many of her church's organizations and activities. She was the first woman to serve on the board of directors of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod LC-MS and held that position for 13 years. At 46, she became the youngest woman to head the International Lutheran Women's Missionary League LWML. She was also the president of the North Dakota District LWML; and the editor of Better Health, a quarterly publication of worker health benefit plans in the LC-MS. She was honored as the North Dakota Woman of the Year in Religion in 1975. During the late 1970's and early 1980's, Florence was staff executive for the Council for Christian Medical Work. She helped the Council make the transition from early medical mission approaches, such as building clinics and hospitals in urban areas, to creating community-based health care in isolated rural areas of developing countries. In this role, she planned and supervised the training of health workers in India, Nigeria, the Philippines, Guatemala, and elsewhere. Her intergenerational interests were reflected in presidencies of both the Association of Lutheran Older Adults and the Lutheran Youth Encounter. Florence is survived by her husband, Bob; their daughter, Jennifer and her husband, Paul Rechlin, Bismarck; her daughter-in-law, Kate Ryan; six grandchildren, Eric and Alexandra Rechlin and Rob, Rock, Jake and Rebekah Montz; three sisters, Gertrude Hoffmeier, Gladys Scheeper, and Lou Fiala; and one brother, Larry Stolte. Her parents, Emil and Emma Stolte; her sister, Luetta Ziolecki; and her son, Rick preceded her in death. The family prefers memorials be sent to either Dakota Boys Ranch or Zion Lutheran Church LWML project fund.

Florence Montz

June 7, 1924 - February 7, 2007