Florence Dora Goodwin-Rasmussen, 91

Florence Dora Goodwin-Rasmussen, 91, passed away on Sunday, June 22, 2008, at the Life Care Center of Sandpoint.

She went peacefully in her sleep without pain and now rests in the arms of her heavenly father.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her first husband, James C. “Cliff” Goodwin Sr., father of her three children in 1993; and her second husband, Clyde C. Rasmussen in 1976; and by a great grandson. Florence is survived by her daughter, Mary (Doran) Desirey of Sagle, Idaho; sons, James C. “Cliff” Goodwi, Jr. and Joseph R. Goodwin, both of Sagle; 15 grandchildren, 32 great-grandchildren, with two on the way; and a great-great-grandson.

Florence was born the tenth of 13 children during the Great Depression and the last to survive them all. She survived longer than any one of her siblings living to the age of 91. Her mother passed away from smallpox when she was only 4 years old and she had three younger siblings, the last two being twins who were still nursing at the time of their mother’s death. She was raised by older siblings, those who were still at home, when they were home.

She had a hard life but often said that she became stronger because of it. She loved to cook and we all loved her cooking. She also loved to garden and often raised her own garden, flowers, and vegetables and canned what she grew.

She liked to sew and made her children’s clothes on a treadle machine when they were small and also made quilts. She crocheted and started knitting until her eye sight diminished.

Florence was raised in Kansas and moved to southern Idaho in 1936 with her husband and his family, leaving all her kin behind. They both sought work and did any work they could find to survive. They both worked until she became pregnant with her first child, four years after her marriage.

She moved to northern Idaho in 1979 to be closer to her only daughter. Both of her sons later moved to Sandpoint. This is where she remained until her passing.

She worked hard all her life whether in home or away from home and can now rest in peace.

When she moved to northern Idaho she worked for the senior companion for several years up until she was in her 80s.

Funeral services will be conducted 11 a.m. on Friday, June 27, 2008, at Coffelt Funeral Chapel, with the Rev. Jon Pomeroy, officiating. Private interment will take place in Westmond Cemetery. Family and friends are invited to sign Florence’s online guest book at www.coffeltfuneral.com.

Arrangements are entrusted to the care of Coffelt Funeral Service.