Florence Balzum, 78, Ada, Minnesota, died Monday, November 2, 2015, at Benedictine Care Community, Ada.

Florence Genevive Aarestad was born September 10, 1937 to Hazel and Julius Aarestad in Crookston, Minnesota. She was the fourth of seven children and grew up on the family farm near Lockhart, Minnesota. She graduated from Halstad High School in 1955 and married Ronald (Butch) Balzum on September 30th of the same year. She and her husband built a house a mile North of Ada and moved into it in 1962 where they lived for the next 51 years.

Florence worked as a seamstress, retouching and colorizing photographs, and a custodial position that she eventually shared with her husband at the Ada Elementary School. In 1982, Florence and Ron opened F & R Floral in Ada and owned and operated it until they retired in 2006.

Florence was preceded in death by her parents, Julius and Hazel (Hauge) Aarestad, her husband, Ronald Balzum, two sisters, Donna Sorhiem, and Laurel Keeney, brother Kenneth Aarestad and great-granddaughter, June Rudd.

Florence is survived by her sisters, Joyce Fortier, of Mason City, IA., Arloine Carlson of Arkdale, WI., Marilyn Arlien of Fargo, ND., brother, Julien and(Sandra) Aarestad of Fargo, ND, four children, Shirley Riley of Ada, Tamara and (Bruce) Sargent of Ada, Rick Balzum and (Scott Eastvold) of Buffalo, MN., Stacey Balzum of Ada, four grandchildren, Adam Rudd and Jayme Rudd, both of Friday Harbor, WA., Virginia Dettmann of Buelah, ND, Michael Erickson of Ada, great-grandchildren: Lily Rudd, of New Richmond, WI., Joe Rudd, Coon Rapids, MN, and Damien Rudd, of Friday Harbor, WA.

Funeral: 2:00PM, Monday, November 9, 2015 at Fredrikson-Ganje Funeral Home, Ada, MN.

Visitation: One hour before the service at the funeral home.

Inurnment: Ada Municipal Cemetery, Ada, MN.