Florence Luella Wetzel

Florence “Dolly” Wetzel, age 89, of Garretson, died on Monday, July 28, 2008 at her home. Memorial services will begin at 7:00 P.M. Thursday, July 31, 2008 at the Minnehaha Funeral Home, Garretson with the family present beginning at 6:00 P.M. Interment will be at 2:00 P.M., August 25, 2008 at Wood National Cemetery in Milwaukee, WI.

Florence “Dolly” Wetzel was born in Cudahy, Wisconsin on November 10, 1918 to Hancine and Arthur White and was the youngest of four children. After losing their mother at a young age, she and her siblings were by raised by their beloved “papa.”

Dolly graduated from Cudahy High School. She married Hal on November 6, 1939 and had two daughters: Judy (Russell) Sesto of Kenosha, Wisconsin and Pat (Dutch) Van de Slunt of Davis, Georgia. She divorced Hal in 1946, and married Al on March 20, 1948 and had three more daughters: Helen (Dave) Goronja of Howard, South Dakota, Jean (Louis) Sheffield of China Grove, North Carolina and Vicki (Vern) Cobb of Garretson, South Dakota. She divorced Al and married Bill (who in her words) was the love of her life on November 17, 1973. Dolly worked as an office manager in an agricultural business.

Dolly and Bill were both members of the V.F.W.(A) and M.O.C.(A) holding not only local and district offices but offices at the state level as well. In 1994, after the loss of her beloved Bill, she moved to Garretson to make her final home with her daughter Vicki and her family.

In all, Dolly had eleven grandchildren: Russell Jr., Mary Elizabeth, Matthew, James, Cheryl, Mark, Dawn, David, Nicole, Kassandra and Chelsea. She had twelve great grandchildren: Cassandra, Rebecca, Dominic, James Jr., Mitchell, Brian, Robert, Brandon, Mallory, Mackenzie, Angela and four great-great grandchildren. She was a member of the Celebration United Methodist Church of Brandon, South Dakota. In addition to her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, she is survived by her brother Arthur of LaCrosse, Wisconsin and numerous nieces and nephews. Dolly had a great sense of humor, she was kind and loving and will be greatly missed by family and friends.

And he’ll lift you up on angels wings…

We love you mom!