Florence Johanna Towers

On May 20, 2025 we lost the best mother, sister, friend anyone could wish for. She was born on February 21, 1929 in Lindsborg Kansas to Otto and Anna Johnson. She was named Florence in honor of her mother’s sister Florence, and her middle name Johanna was derived from her two grandmothers Hannah and Johanna.

Her early life, like our father’s, was completely different to what we and our children experienced. Like our dad, her home had no running water, indoor plumbing, or electricity. More important, she was raised by a single parent since her father passed away from a farming accident when she was just four years old. Lindsborg is a Swedish community within Kansas. When the adults had something important to talk about and did not want the children to understand, they spoke in Swedish.

She attended the same school from first grade through 8th grade. Her school was massive compared to our dad’s – it had two rooms. She lived in the same house on the farm where her uncles did all the field work while her mom made all the meals. When one of her uncles passed away, her mom made the decision to move from Kansas to California. The reason why they chose California was that her Aunt Sigrid had already moved to California. Mom, her brother Roscoe and her mom Anna traveled by train and moved in with her Aunt Sigrid and Uncle Floyd. The three of them shared one room. Our mom was 15 when she moved to South Gate California. She attended South Gate High School and was an immediate honor student. She was not able to participate in school activities since she had to go home and watch the two young children of her Aunt Sigrid. Mom graduated with honors from South Gate High School in 1947. She then attended Los Angeles city college earning an Associated of Arts degree in Sociology in 1949 and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education in 1951 with a 3.9 GPA. Our mom wanted to be a teacher and earned her teaching credential in 1953.

Our mom met our dad while singing in the Huntington Park United Methodist Church choir. They were married on August 17, 1951. Her long 1-year teaching career ended when she gave birth to Mark. Mom was a traditional stay at home mom and was extremely active in the church and PTA. Once her youngest was old enough to start school she returned to teaching by becoming a teacher at the United Methodist Church preschool. She ended up taking over as the director of the preschool and worked for the preschool for 28 years. Her music ministry was so important to her, that she not only sang in the chancellor choir but also was the children’s choir director. She would orchestrate musicals for Father’s Day that not only included the children from church but also her grandchildren. She also became involved in the Assistance League of Downey where her daughter was an assisteen. She was the league president 3 times and also was in charge of the Assistance League Thrift Store.

Mom and dad were married for 69 years before our father passed on February 2, 2021.

Our mother was very dedicated to her family. She was the best at saving or stretching money. Times were different back then; we only went out for food about four times a year. We would go out for dinner at Bob’s Big Boy on report card night. Then once a year we would go to the Steak Corral or

Steak-in-Stein. Although money was tight, we never knew it. Our large trip out of California was in a blue station wagon that we drove across the USA to Independence, Missouri for our Dad’s parents’ 50th Wedding Anniversary. Mom and Dad belonged to the San Moritz Club, and we had a few trips up to Crestline, California where we rented a mountain cabin. Mom loved being up in the mountains.

Church was very important to her and was part of her daily existence, like eating or drinking. Downey United Methodist Church followed by First United Methodist Church of Orange were a significant part of her life. She was loved by everyone including the thousands of children that attended the United Methodist Church Preschool but especially by her four children. Like our father, she loved playing cards and was dominant, but would allow someone else to win if she felt they were overly frustrated. She enjoyed being the preschool director, teaching choir, but most of all being with her family. Mom was preceded in death by her husband, our father Dale, and survived by her four children and spouses Mark, Craig & Kelly, Deanna, and Lance & Sandra, 19 grandchildren including spouses and 20 great grandchildren.

Mom, we love you and will miss you very much