Florence Dorothy (Miller) Kostelnak entered God’s kingdom of power on November 8, 1930 as an infant, and entered God’s kingdom of grace through baptism on November 15, 1930. Florence passed away on Monday, January 31, 2011 at the St. Luke’s Home, Dickinson, entering God’s kingdom of glory. Funeral services for Florence will at on Friday, February 4, 2011 at 11 a.m., at Redeemer Lutheran Church, Dickinson, with Rev. Michael Wolters officiating. Interment will take place in the Spring at the Killdeer Cemetery, Killdeer. Visitation will be on Friday one hour prior to service at the church.
Florence is survived by her husband, Robert Kostelnak; two daughters and sons-in-law, Zola Kay and Jerry Dasinger, and Renae Rae and Greg Schneider; four grandchildren, Grandon (Dawn), Raelene, Holly, and Britnee (George); one great-grandchild, Dawson; her sister, Cleo Kulish; numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives. She was preceded in death by her parents, August G. and Tillie (Weil) Miller; and sisters, Janet Tysver and Mardell Tatum.
Born and raised on the family farm northwest of Hazen, Florence attended a rural one-room school. The high school equivalency tests qualified Florence to attend Dickinson State College, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education with a minor in Social Studies. Florence was an elementary teacher for 18 plus years at various schools in McKenzie, Dunn and Billings Counties of North Dakota. She was elected for inclusion in the 1970 edition of Outstanding Educators of America and received a certificate recognizing her contributions to the advancement of education and service to community, state and country.
Robert and Florence were married on November 14, 1952, and together they spent their lifetime farming west of Killdeer. They also established and operated the Knife River Trading Post in Manning from 1985 until the spring of 1994. They are members of Redeemer Lutheran Church.
Throughout her adult years, Florence participated in and volunteered her time and talents to various activities and positions; women’s league in college, the local committee of the North Dakota Education Association, advisor to junior high school cheerleaders, senior YCL president, special math sessions, in-service, student teachers, creating school museum displays, and background work on German ethnicity. In 1984, Florence and Robert took an eight week tour of Germany and various European countries.
Florence also found time for hobbies: crocheting, personal Bible study, gardening, and writing poetry. Two of her poems were published by the International Library of Poetry in separate books containing collections of poems. The two poems are included in the bulletin in loving memory of Florence’s creative, written expression.
Florence’s life and work on earth are done. Of all the roles she lived (daughter, mother, teacher, wife, homemaker, store clerk, manager of a business, etc.), the role that was closest to her heart was “Florence, child of God”.
