Florence A. Wells

Florence A. Wells, 76, of Belle, passed away on Saturday, December 30, 2017, at Westphalia Hills Retirement home.

Florence was born on November 2, 1941, in Belle a daughter to the late Raymond Ridenhour and Zelma (Ficke) Jones.

In 1957 Florence was united in marriage to Martin Schalk. They later divorced. Martin passed away on December 2, 1978. Florence got remarried on November 18, 1978 to Ronald Wells. He preceded her in death on October 29, 2003.

Florence had been employed at the Brown Shoe Company in Owensville for many years. She also worked as a cook at several restaurants throughout the area in including the Dinner Bell in Bland and the Donut Shop in Belle. Florence was a ordained preacher and performed many marriages in the Belle area as well as serving as the clergy at the R.L.D.S Church in Belle. She attended the Bland school system until she was 15 when she quit to start a family. 

Florence was a member of the R.L.D.S church and her hobbies included reading, playing piano and writing poems and songs. She loved to sing and would take time throughout her life to sing in bands and choirs. She even sang once on a local radio station. Her greatest joy was spending time with family and friends.

Florence is survived by: three children, Sherree Burkholder of Belle, Marty Schalk of Arkansas, and Rainey Schalk and his wife Casey of Belle; five grandchildren, Christina Dixon of Belle, Katie Burkholder of Belle, Caleb Schalk of Arkansas, Callie Curtis of Arkansas, and Erin Schalk of Belle; nine siblings, Sylvia Dudley, Donald Jones, Linda Fuhrman, Dixie Krettie, Gary Jones, Rodger Jones, Roy Jones, Danny Jones and Jimmy Jones as well as many extended family members and friends.

In addition to her parents and husbands, Florence was preceded in death by one infant son, Michael; one infant sister, Carmalitta; and three brothers and two sisters, Mack Ridenhour, Charlie Jones, Ronald Jones, Jessi Jones, and Mary Ridenhour Wells.   

Graveside services will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 16, 2018 at the R.L.D.S Cemetery in Linn.

Expressions of sympathy may be made to the R.L.D.S Cemetery fund in care of Sassmann’s Chapel, P.O. Box 881, Belle, MO 65013

Arrangements are under the direction of Sassmann’s Chapel, Belle, MO. (859-3712)

www.sassmannschapel.com