Florence Ruth Stewart Fallert

Florence Ruth Stewart Fallert was born March 7, 1915 in Middle River, Minnesota to Mark Stewart and Dora Clark Stewart and died Monday, May 11th. When Florence was 15 months old the family loaded their belongings into a Model T Ford and made the trek to Washington State. They lived for many years in Toledo, Washington where her father owned a hardware store and was mayor. At the age of sixteen, she moved to Portland to keep house for her cousins Ruth and Harold Putnam and attended Jefferson High School, graduating in 1932. Florence and Stephan (Steve) Fallert were married in January of 1940 and began a marriage that lasted 61 years until Steve’s death in 2001. Steve was a country boy dedicated to raising salmon for the Washington State Fisheries Department. Florence loved music, art, reading and writing. She played the piano almost every day and was a faithful patron of the Auburn Symphony. She created a home that was warm, lovely, and welcoming where she and Steve enjoyed entertaining friends and family. Florence was a lively conversationalist and had a great, and often unexpected, sense of humor. Florence stayed at home to raise her family until going to work at the Auburn Library in the early 60s where she catalogued books until her retirement at 70. She loved her job and relished the opportunity to preview all the new books that came in the back door of the library to be catalogued and put on the shelves. When the White River Museum needed its book collection catalogued, she volunteered her services. She and Steve made many trips to Europe after his retirement and especially loved finding the town in Germany where Steve’s father and grandparents originated. She attended the Senior Center’s writing class for close to twenty years. She loved the writing and enjoyed her fellow writing students. She was known for her correspondence and was a prolific letter writer. Her sweet notes are treasured by all who received them. When her granddaughter and husband were in the Peace Corps in West Africa, Florence’s weekly letters from home relating her and Steve’s simple daily activities and events became a high point in the Peace Corps community and were read aloud for all to hear. Florence is survived by her daughter Nancy Fallert Colson and husband Merle Siler, son Peter Fallert and wife, Nancy, four grandchildren, Stephanie Condon, Jon Colson, and Paul Fallert and Adam Fallert, and six great-grandchildren. The family appreciates Tom Boulanger’s friendship to her over the years, the caring service of Dr. Min Kang and the staff at Argus Oncology, and Dr. Dirk Powell’s thoughtful care and concern. Arrangements by Klontz Funeral Home. Services will be 11:00 AM Tuesday May 19, 2009 at Holy Family Church in Auburn. Remembrances may be made to the Auburn Symphony Orchestra or White River Valley Museum.