Florence Maye Salisbury

Florence Maye Salisbury (nee Buthala), of Longmont, CO, passed away on Wednesday, August 2nd, 2017 at TRU Community Care Hospice Care Center in Boulder, CO. She was 93.Born January 26th, 1924 in Yankton, SD to William M. and Anna (Schlimgen) Buthala, Florence was raised on a farm in Beresford, SD where as a child she attended Cleveland School, a one room schoolhouse in rural Beresford.Cleveland was the type of school where the students were taken to class on either a horse-drawn wagon or sleigh. That experience was the beginning of a lifelong love of horses for Florence. She even had a horse of her own named Beauty that accompanied her on many adventures. Those adventures inspired countless stories that she shared with her family over the years.After graduating from Beresford High School, Florence went to work in defense plants during World War II, first in Sioux City, lA, and then in Milwaukee, Wl. Florence built armaments for every type of warcraft imaginable, and she also soldered and welded. She was truly one of the many Rosie the Riveters of the time.As a proud American woman, Florence, or Boots as her fellow-workers called her due to her fashionable choices in footwear, believed that her job at the defense plants was a way to contribute to the war effort, as well as a tribute to the boys and men whom were risking their lives for the safety and security of the world.After the war, Florence married LyIe Dare Salisbury on February 14th, 1946 in Beresford, before settling down in Lafayette, CO, where LyIe went to work in the coal mines and Florence settled into the only life she ever wanted, and that was as a housewife, and then later mother of what would become a family of four girls and three boys.Florence and LyIe returned to South Dakota briefly in the late 1940's before moving to Longmont full time in the early 1950's, eventually settling down on Eighth Avenue in 1958, the only home she would know for 25 years, and one that was filled with love, laughter, and the hustle and bustle of as many as nine people living under the same roof.The home she made there was truly a special place, made even more special because, while the family never had much, it never felt deprived because there was always food on the table and clean clothes to wear to school. And because Florence loved everyone, it became the favorite gathering place for all the kids in the neighborhood.Once her children were able to help out by taking care of each other, Florence returned to work at several jobs working with the public in Longmont, where she was known to many throughout town for her warm smile and friendly, engaging manner.Florence was a lifelong Catholic and loyal member of the parish of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church for more than 66 years.Florence was preceded in death by her parents Anna and William, husband LyIe, and grandson, Jacob.Florence is survived by her sister Marion of Arizona and Sister Marge of Iowa. Her children Gary (Jane) of Louisville, CO and Maui, HI, Bonnie Michael (Guy), Steven (Susan Novelli), Lori Quinata (Rudy) of Longmont, Mary Salisbury (Stockton, CA), LuAnn Shufflebarger (John) of Cheyenne, WY and Michael of Loveland, CO, along with eight grandchildren; Stacy, Jamie, John, Lisa, Cydnie, Jeremy, Jason and Josh and thirteen great grandchildren; Ali, Billy, Dylan, Levi, Ryder, Kai, Brevan, Brynn, Emery, Landen, Ben, Jack and Sam.Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 AM, Thursday, August 10, 2017 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church. Cremation entrusted to Ahlberg Funeral Chapel and Crematory. Inurnment to be held in Foothills Gardens of Memory cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Cinnamon Park Residence or TRU Hospice and may be sent in care of Ahlberg Funeral Chapel. Visit www.ahlbergfuneralchapel.com to share condolences.