Flora Anna Larson was born January 26, 1930, in Missoula Montana.  She was the fifth of six children born to Rev. J.C. Sipple and Linde A.O. (Sumnicht) Sippel.  Her father came to America from Germany just prior to America's entry into WWI to serve as pastor to German speaking congregations.  Her mother, trained as a teacher, had grown up in a German farming community in Wisconsin.

During Flora's childhood the family lived in several communities responding to her father's call as a minister.  Among them were Missoula, Mt. and Bowdle, Revillo, Menno, Parker, Beresford, and Vermillion, SD.  She was a graduate of Vermillion High School and attended one year of college at the University of South Dakota.

Living in so many communities the Sippel family was tightly knit, and her brothers and sisters remained her closest friends for life.

During the summer following her high school graduation, while visiting with friends near the Vermillion swimming pool she was approached by an older friend who told her one of the girl's law school classmates wanted to meet her. The young man who wanted to meet her was her future husband John W. Larson.  Flora and John were married on August 19, 1949, in her father's last church, at rural Beresford, with her father performing the ceremony.

Upon John's graduation from law school, the young couple moved to Kennebec, SD, where John went into the law practice of former Gov. M.Q. Sharpe.  There they raised their three children, David, Linda, and Dean, and formed many long lasting and cherished friendships.   When the Kennebec High School was closed the family moved to Chamberlain so the two younger children could continue their education.  They lived in Chamberlain for ten years, and then moved to Vermillion where John became a professor at the School of Law for an additional twelve years, after which they retired to Arizona.

Flora was blessed with a beautiful singing voice. So much so that as a young child her older sister Margaret put her up to singing in the local bar for candy money they would later split between them – something Rev. and Mrs. Sippel put a stop to when they found out about it.  She continued to sing throughout her life, and often provided the music for weddings and funerals in addition to singing in her church choir.

While in grade school in Menno, Flora won a First in the state oral interpretation contest.  Despite her talents she had trouble learning to read, and probably suffered from dyslexia, something that was unknown of at the time.  Despite her struggles she became an avid reader and a lover of words.  Her preference was for classical English and American novels – reading with a dictionary at her side so she could explore the meaning of any new or unique word.  She was especially proud of the fact that she received one of the highest grades in an extension literature class even though all her classmates were teachers.

Shortly before her death she memorized Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, because of her fascination with the words and the way in which written.

Flora was an avid letter writer and maintained an unusual and wide-ranging correspondence which at times included such people as Carl Wallenda, the high wire walker, and Ruth Ziolkowski, of Crazy Horse Monument, as well as lifelong friends, family, and a weekly letter to her grandchildren.

A traditional wife and mother, her most salient feature was her faith. In addition to her novels Flora was a student of the Bible having read it cover to cover numerous times.  As a mother she saw that her children received a Bible education, gathering around the kitchen table on Saturday mornings to read a chapter at a time. At various times she served as a Sunday School teacher, vacation bible school teacher and host, and volunteer for a variety of church activities. She became a member of a church in every town she lived in, including the Kennebec United Methodist Church, Chamberlain United Church of Christ, Vermillion United Church of Christ, and the Desert Garden Church of Sun City West, AZ, of which she was a charter member.

Flora was a member of P.E.O. in both Chamberlain and Vermillion.

Flora passed away June 28, 2021. To the end she was strong in her faith, soft and loving of spirit, and was able to laugh and joke with a twinkle in her eye.

Flora is survived by her children, David Larson (Maryalice) of Chamberlain, SD, Linda Drennen (Peter) of Phoenix, AZ, seven grandchildren, one great grandchild, and her sister Freda.  She was preceded in death by her husband John, son Dean, Brothers Nathen, Waldemar , and Joseph Sippel, and a sister Margaret Schmierer.