Florence Ann Coash was born April 22, 1931, to David and Anna (Novotny) Coash on a farm west of Winner, SD she was the youngest of their two children.  Florence attended school at St. Mary's, Sunnyside, and graduated from Winner High School in 1950.  Florence married Ivan Oscar Fischer on October 18, 1952, in a joint wedding with her sister; Mildred (Coash) and Bennie Brozik. The union was blessed with nine children, Roger, Robert, Cynthia, Carol, Diane, Russell, Denise, Crystal and Darla.  Ivan passed away suddenly in 1984. Florence later married Donald Lee Kirkpatrick of Gregory, SD in 1987. Don passed away in 2012.

During the early years of her marriage to Ivan, Florence worked as a dispatcher for the Winner Sheriff's office, she needed to leave this employer to take on the new title and role of mom. After Ivan's death Florence returned to school at Sinte Gleska University to get a degree in bookkeeping, during this time she worked at the Extension Office helping individuals learn to cook with their commodities, at the Job Service with the Rent-A-Kid program, and at Southeast Behavioral Health Care. After graduating with a degree in bookkeeping Florence became a bookkeeper for John A Carlson Construction, Winner, SD where she was employed until her retirement.

Florence was passionate about sewing, she made most all the kids clothing while they were growing up, which eventually lead her to quilting. She was very active in 4-H and the local Quilters guild. Florence was a faithful member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church and active in Catholic Daughters where her years of cooking for a good crowd were used for several banquets.  Florence enjoyed dancing, polka, circle two-step, waltzing, and square dancing. After retirement she was able to travel around the country following her favorite dance bands.  Florence also enjoyed having morning coffee with her friends and serving the community.

Florence's greatest joy was spending time with her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and all the "adopted" children who came into her life, no child was turned away, whether they moved in for a year or two, stayed with her for the summer or just visited on the holidays.  Florence enjoyed watching her 16 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren grow up.

She is preceded in death by her parents Anna & David Coash, sister Mildred Brozik, spouses Ivan Fischer, Donald Kirkpatrick, special friend Wayne Bortz, daughters Crystal Westland, Cynthia McCormick, and granddaughter Casey Crane.

Florence is survived by lots of love.  Children: Roger (Linda Leonhard) Fischer of Belle Fourche, Robert (Yvonne Mitchell) Fischer of Hot Springs,  Carol (Greg) Evans of Pierre, Diane (Steve) Lorenz of Bottineau, ND, Russell (Susan) Fischer of Dandridge, TN, Denise (Douglas) Kirkpatrick of Dell Rapids, Darla (Aaron) Hemingway of Pringle.  Grandchildren: Andrea (Aaron) Campbell, Angela (Kenny) Brown, Brandy (Corey) Messer, Misty Fischer, Chelsey Fischer, Marcella (Kirby) Johnson, Cory (Michelle) Fischer, Jessica (Betty) McCormick, Breanna Westland, Christopher McCormick, Karlie (Austin) Gehm, Kaylee Fischer, Heather (Tristen) Wagner, Addison & Easton Hemingway.  Great-Grandchildren: Dylan, Devin & Marrisa Brown, Jace & Zaden Crane, Joselyn & Dominic Fischer, Jackson & Tyler Trant, Riley & Reese Messer, Dalton & Faith Campbell, Skyla, Antares & Kasey Fischer, Amaura Old Lodge, Adelynn Odel, Lincoln Fischer, Raelyn, Kinley & Rylee Johnson, Bob McCormick (Son-In-Law), and all of her "adopted" children many of which are in attendance today.