Florence (Dahl) Gordon, 93 of Spearfish passed away on Thursday, June 22, 2023 peacefully.

Florence Hilma Dahl was born Aug. 19, 1929, on the family farm six miles southwest of Lodgepole, SD to Walter C. and Helen (Olson) Dahl. The droughts and Great Depression of the 1930's claimed the farm and Florence and her brothers attended elementary grades in the Hubbard, Lodgepole and Bison schools as their father relocated the family around Perkins County following the road, water and construction projects of the Work Projects Administration.

When her father secured employment in Lawrence County at the newly opened Homestake Sawmill, the family moved to Spearfish where Florence graduated from Spearfish High School in 1947. During her senior year she was an editor of the high school newspaper, "The Lookout" and was named to the "Allstate Staff of High School Journalists."

Essay contests, which always preceded graduations, were Florence's way to high school records. Tone deaf, she did not participate in music, vocal or instrumental, and self-conscience, she was ill at ease for declamation. But composition was her talent. She won second in the state Knights of Columbus Essay Contest, third in the State Tuberculosis Essay Contest and she placed first in the District, then second in the State American Legion Essay Contest.

The biggest award for Florence was not the recognition. It was a call from Mike Heinbaugh, publisher of the Queen City Mail, the town's weekly newspaper. He was looking for a news reporter who could also write the "special interest" stories, he felt this was Florence Dahl and she joined the crew part-time as her graduation neared and remained associated with the paper off and on for many years.

She was pursuing her new job when she caught the eye of someone else. Frank "Pete" Gordon was a handsome, young man recently back in his hometown of Belle Fourche after being honorably discharged from war service in Europe under General George Patton. Employed by Buckingham Transportation, he was often in Spearfish and had caught sight of Florence when making deliveries. Unhappy that he could never encounter her, one day he walked into the Queen City Mail and boldly introduced himself to Florence and asked for a date to the regular Friday night dance at the Spearfish Park Pavilion. Eagerly she accepted the invitation hoping that he rated appearance above ability on the dance floor. Despite her two left feet, it was true love and they were married on the first day of spring, March 21, 1949.

They began their marriage in the rented house Pete was occupying in Belle Fourche and Florence began employment at the Daily Belle Fourche Post and the Weekly Belle Fourche Bee.

Their daughter Christine was born on September 15, 1951 at the John Burns Memorial Hospital in Belle Fourche. In 1954, Florence was contacted by Fred Brady to begin employment as an Administrative Assistant at Brady Engineering. In 1969 she transferred from the consulting firm to the Brady for Congress 1970 Republican Primary Campaign. Now a family, the young couple moved to Spearfish to pursue their dream of home ownership.

They had learned of a hand-hewn small log cabin in an excellent location and priced for restoration. Florence loved their homes and homemaking. Inside her home, visitors would find many unique furnishings created by Florence. Their refurbished log home was showcased on the first Tour of Homes which was a fundraiser for Lawrence County 4-H Clubs. In 1984, the Lawrence County Historical Society toured the home for their November-December meeting.

The house was not just for show, Florence would create meals that won national cooking awards including a finalist in two South Dakota Beef Cook-Offs and in 1995 she went to Atlanta, Georgia on an expense paid winner's trip to participate in The National Chicken Contest as the South Dakota finalist. Her recipe, "Oven-Easy Chicken Stew with Sesame Sage Biscuits," appears on page 47 in the 41st National Chicken Cooking Contest cookbook.

As they aged, Florence and Pete downsized to a Tamarack townhouse in north Spearfish. They were fortunate to share many retirement years together, traveling to Europe, Alaska, Canada and many vacation destinations in the continental United States. But their greatest joys were camping with their 5th wheel in the recreational areas of the Black Hills and along the shorelines of the Missouri River.

Survivors include her daughter Christine (Robert) Dove of Des Moines, IA; Brothers: James Dahl of Ohio and Florida; Floyd Dahl of Deadwood and George (Vreni) Dahl of Spearfish and many nieces and nephews whom she dearly loved. She was preceded in passing by her beloved husband Pete, parents, sister-in-law Mae Dahl and two nephews Mike and Alec.

Funeral Services will be held at 1:00 pm on Wednesday, June 28, 2023 at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Spearfish, with visitation one hour prior.  Burial to follow at Black Hills National Cemetery.

Online condolences may be written at www.fidler-isburgfuneralchapels.com