Baker City, Oregon
Florine P. Tiedemann, 79, a longtime Baker City resident, died Aug. 24, 2003, at St. Elizabeth Health Services.
Recitation of the rosary will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday at St. Francis de Sales Cathedral, First and Church streets. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the cathedral. Celebrant will be the Rev. Robert C. Irwin. Vault interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery after the Mass.
Visitations will be from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday at the Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St.
Florine was born Oct. 27, 1923, at Baker City to Joe and Irma De Groote, Belgium emigrants. They settled with other relatives at Empire, Mich. Upon the advice of others, they moved to Baker City, where they were told of more opportunities.
Her father worked at the White Pine and Stoddard Lumber companies and the family remained in Baker City for the rest of their lives.
She attended the St. Francis Academy for her entire 12 years of school. From 1942 to 1947, she owned and operated the South Baker Grocery Store, during World War II. The Oregon and Stoddard Lumber Co. and others were doing well and business was very good.
She was said to remark when you went to work “you could never be depressed” because there were so many wonderful customers and friends to inspire you. In other words, “It was just great fun!”
On Sept. 28, 1947, she married Al Tiedemann at St. Francis Cathedral. Al was attending the University of Oregon Dental School and she joined her husband in Portland. While there, she was employed in the office of the Young Oregonian Shop for Meier & Frank.
She was a member of the Catholic Church, St. Elizabeth Auxiliary, Baker City Golf Club, Baker Elks Lodge and the Eastern Oregon Historical Society. She volunteered for various organizations over the years. She loved golf for many years and enjoyed the several bridge clubs and the members’ wonderful friendships.
For the past 30 years, she owned several rental homes and enjoyed the involvement. Before her husband’s retirement on Jan. 31, 1986, she assisted him at his dental office.
Highlights of her life were her five grandchildren, Al, Don, Jackie, Alexis and Avari, who were a constant delight in her life.
Most of all, she loved her late husband, Al; and her dear children, Bill and Marilee; her sisters Julia De Groote, Mary Claeys and her husband, Raymond, and their families; and her brother, Marcel De Groote, who died at the age of 52, and his wife, Clairene; her sister-in-law, Marjorie Reagan, who she truly loved as a sister; and Marlene Thompson, their little sweetheart who was their flower girl at age 3.
She had a happy life involving some of her pastimes with love for nature, music and many good friends and neighbors. Ultimately, Florine will be remembered as someone who was willing to help anyone, anytime with anything.
Survivors include her children, Bill of Alpharetta, Ga., and Marilee of Pasadena, Calif.; five grandchildren, Al, Don and Jackie Tiedemann of Portland and Alexis and Avari Tiedemann of Alpharetta; sisters, Julia De Groote of Baker City and Mary Claeys of Hillsboro; sisters-in-law, Clairene De Groote of Hillsboro and Marjorie Reagan of Halfway; nieces, Marlene Thompson of Hillsboro, Sharon Howard of McKinnley Villa, Calif., and Susan Rowen of Halfway; nephews, Dr. Robert Claeys of West Linn and Don and Dick Claeys, both of Rock Creek; cousins, Palma Abbott of Yreka, Calif., Stella De Bel of Silverton and Jerry Guthrie.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Baker City Golf Club Tree Fund, Baker Elks Lodge, Baker County Historical Society or a charity of one’s choice.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, August 29, 2003
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor