Florence Mary Elizabeth (Ronnebaum) Deters, 84, of Centralia, Kansas, died late Tuesday, November 22, 2011, at Brandon Woods nursing center in Lawrence.

She was born on April 4, 1927 in Oneida, Kansas, the daughter of Clemens and Anna Strathman Ronnebaum. She attended school at Victory #99 in Oneida.

Florence married Joseph G. Deters on February 14, 1953 in Seneca, Kansas. They lived their entire married life on a farm four miles west of Centralia. They celebrated 45 years of marriage before Joe preceded her in death on January 11, 1999. They raised five children, Mary Ann, Jolene, Cindy, Connie and Jerry.

Florence was a farm wife all her life but she also worked outside the home, including at the Onaga sewing factory, the County Home and Life Care nursing home. She and Joe worked together at the Centralia School after their children left home. After Joe’s death she worked with her daughter Cindy for years at Schreiner’s Diner making pies and cookies and helping in the kitchen, which she dearly loved.

After Florence and Joe married they attended Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Baileyville. In later years, they returned to Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Seneca. Florence was a member of the Altar Society, VFW Ladies Auxiliary and Keenagers.

Florence had many special interests and activities. She had a true love and passion for sewing and hand quilting. She was especially proud of the quilt she was asked to hand-make for Attorney General Bob Stephens’ retirement gift. She created over 200 quilts for people all over the United States. She also crocheted doilies, made comforters and baby blankets. She would get so excited to find new flannel fabric designs. When her granddaughters were young, she loved sewing clothes and blankets for their Cabbage Patch dolls.

Florence was well known in Nemaha County for her baking and cooking skills. Everyone enjoyed her “lovers knots” and pies. She raised a big garden every year and enjoyed canning.

Florence also had a love for music. Her dad bought her a piano when she was in 4th grade which she continued to own and loved to play. There was always music in her home, especially around the holidays when all the kids and grandkids were there. They would all gather around the piano and sing along while her husband Joe would dance around the room, usually with one of the grandkids in his arms. She also played the accordion and the guitar.

Survivors are four daughters, Mary Ann (Glenn) Deck of Lawrence, Kansas, Jolene (Larry) Fairchild of Overbrook, Kansas, Cindy (Tom) Schreiner of Portland, Oregon and Connie (Bob) Fisher of Centralia; a son, Jerry (Laura) Deters of Princeton, Kansas; a sister, Helen Heinen of Seneca; a brother, Bill Ronnebaum of Seneca; eight grandchildren; five step-grandchildren; one great-granddaughter and eight step-great-grandchildren.

Besides her husband Joe, she was preceded in death by four brothers, Henry, Vince, Sylvester “Bud,” and Melvin Ronnebaum; an infant sister, Frances Ronnebaum; and sisters, Evelyn Hammes and Katherine Rettele.

Rosaries will be prayed at 2 & 7 PM on Friday, November 25, at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca. Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10:30 AM Saturday, November 26, at Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Seneca. Florence’s final resting place will be next to her loving husband in Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Cemetery in Seneca.

Memorials may be given for Sts. Peter & Paul Cemetery, or for Masses for Florence and Joe.