Florence A. Cotter (Nelson) Sodren

Cotter (Nelson)(Sodren), Florence A.

Of Coon Rapids, formerly of Crystal, Brooklyn Center/Mesa, Anoka/Mesa, passed away on 5/25/2020.  Florence (Flo) was born and raised in Hamel, MN, to Amil and Rose (Oeffling) LaMere on July 13, 1927.  Preceded by parents, brothers Albert and Lawrence; husbands, Richard Nelson, Marvin Sodren and Richard Cotter and son, Kenneth Nelson.  Survived by sister Beatrice; children Gary (Maria), Vicki Henning (Marlin), Bradley (Joanne), Lisa Zahn (Russ) and Todd (Mary); 16 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren; many step and step-step children and their families.

Florence graduated from Wayzata High School in 1945 and attended reunions into her eighties.  Flo had many jobs over the years including insurance secretary, warehouse order writer, clothing warehouse distributor, electronics assembly, Hallmark book bindry and International Multifoods distribution. She loved to sew.

She married Richard Nelson in 1948. They had 6 children and lived most of their married life in Crystal.  Dick built a cabin at Lake Francis near Isanti and many summer weekends were spent “at the lake”.  Dick passed 11/8/1978.

Flo married Marvin Sodren, in 1981. They spent summer weekends at Lipsett Lake in Wisconsin and wintered in Mesa, AZ.   Marv died in January 1997 in Mesa.

When Flo married Richard Cotter in 1998, it was conditional that he agreed to winter in Mesa!  Flo was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s about 9 years into their marriage. Flo and Dick moved to assisted living in Nov. 2016 and Flo moved to memory care Jan. 2017.  They were married until Dick’s passing in June of 2018.   Due to increasing health issues she was moved to PRECC in April, 2019.

The family wishes to thank the staff at Epiphany Assisted Living Memory Care and Park River Estates and Care Center for the loving care they provided their mother.

Private family services will be held.  Interment at Fort Snelling National Cemetery.