Florence Balderson, 101, of Keosauqua, died Feb. 9, 2010, at Van Buren County Hospital, Keosauqua.She was born Oct. 13, 1908, in Clarksville, Butler County, to Arthur J. and Addie Wilson Merrick.She married George R. "Turk" Balderson June 21, 1933, in Wapello. He died in 1967. Florence graduated from Greene High School, attended Iowa State Teachers College (now University of Northern Iowa) and graduated from Parsons College. She was a retired teacher, having taught 23 years in the schools at Wapello, Belmond, Richland, Fox Valley and Fairfield. She and Turk moved to Keosauqua in 1960. Florence was a member of Keosauqua United Methodist Church, United Methodist Women, Chapter I, P.E.O. and was a former member of Delphian Study Club, Van Buren County Retired School Personnel and National Education Association and was a life member of Iowa State Educational Association.Remaining to cherish her memory are a daughter, Mary Ann Cooper and husband, Paul, of West Des Moines; three sons, Douglas Balderson and wife, Dana, of Henderson, Nev., Robert Balderson and wife, Elaine, of Las Vegas, Nev., and Stephen Balderson and wife, Cathy, of Des Moines; 10 grandchildren; a stepgrandson; 17 great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents and three sisters, Lucile and Maxine Merrick and Marion Hardman.Per her request, her body has been cremated. A memorial service will be 11 a.m. Saturday at Pedrick Funeral Home in Keosauqua; Rev. Harold Schnedler officiating. Burial of cremains will be in Highland Cemetery, Richland at a later date. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 10-11 a.m. Saturday prior to the service. Memorials to Keosauqua United Methodist Church or Keosauqua Public Library Children's Department may be left at the funeral home or mailed to the family at 4915 Country Club Blvd., Des Moines, Iowa 5031.

Published in the Ottumwa Daily Courier from 2/16/2010 - 2/18/2010