Florence Payne, 90, passed away on March 21, 2011, at Peterson Place in Colbert, Washington.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, March 26, at 3 p.m. at Bonners Ferry Funeral Home, with interment following in Grandview Cemetery.

Florence was born in Temvik, North Dakota on February 20, 1921, to Alvira and Norbert Billingsley, thirteenth of nineteen brothers and sisters. Her early childhood was spent in Eastern Montana. Eventually the family moved to Moyie Springs.

She graduated from Spokane Technical and Vocational School to become a Licensed Practical Nurse, and was the first LPN to work in the operating room at the original St. Luke's Hospital in Spokane. Her main interest though, was farming, raising cattle and a few horses along the way. She was the hardest working woman around.

She was preceded in death by her mother and father, son Harold Cave, husband Curt Payne, and thirteen sisters and brothers.

Florence is survived by one son, Bill Johnson, and grandchildren Erin, Rhonda, Bill, Jim, Shawna and Bud.

Family and friends are invited to sign Florence’s book at www.bonnersferryfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are entrusted to the care of Bonners Ferry Funeral Home.