Florence Christensen Holtshouser

Florence Christensen Holtshouser, 102, of Salt Lake City, Utah, passed away peacefully in her sleep at home on July 3, 2026. If you were fortunate enough to know her, you loved her.

Born at home on December 7, 1923, in the small Cache Valley town of Providence, Utah, Florence was the oldest of nine children and grew up on a small family farm. She loved playing sports with her seven brothers and younger sister, and as the oldest, she was often the ringleader. Cache Valley was known for fast-pitch softball in the years following the Great Depression, with teams sponsored by businesses and church groups, and Florence and her brothers excelled at it.

During her senior year of high school, on her birthday, the bombing of Pearl Harbor happened, and graduation festivities were subdued due to the outbreak of World War II.

After graduation from South Cache High School in 1942, she took a job as a switchboard operator, which at the time was unusual for a pretty young woman. Although taught to view outsiders with suspicion, she met many people from all over and was delighted to find that there are good people everywhere, from all kinds of backgrounds. She kept that attitude and faith in people throughout her life.

Prompted by a friend, and explaining it to her mother as her civic duty, Florence volunteered at USO dances. It was there she met a handsome sailor, Herbert Wendell Holtshouser, from Owensboro, KY and changed her life forever. She and Herb married Feb 22, 1944 at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Logan. Together they lived in many places, including the San Francisco Bay Area, where she gave birth to Barbara Ann, and Chicago, Illinois, where they welcomed Wayne and Ruth. They settled in Salt Lake in 1948, where they added Richard, Jean and Joe to the family.

Florence enrolled her children at Judge Memorial Elementary (now known as Our Lady of Lourdes), and was faithfully devoted to supporting her family. She joined the parish at Our Lady of Lourdes, sang in the choir, and took both paid and volunteer roles at the school. She was deeply involved in her community and was proud to support her children in their sports and pursuits. She was honored to be recognized as Woman of the Year at Our Lady of Lourdes.

As her children graduated elementary school and moved up to Judge Memorial Catholic High School, Florence went with them. She worked at the high school for more than 40 years, from 1970-2011. She became a legend at Judge Memorial and was happy to see her grandchildren (and later great-grandchildren) attend. She was known for her kindness and sly wit, and for quietly helping anyone in need, whether they needed a friendly smile or a free cookie (which she paid for herself).

Taught by her family to help those in need, Florence served the poor faithfully for more than 60 years at the St. Vincent de Paul Dining Hall. She viewed everyone who entered as a valued guest and was known for having a smile and a hello for everyone. In 2012, she was honored with Utah’s Unsung Hero Award for her humanitarian work.

In 2014, Florence was inducted into the Utah Softball Hall of Fame, along with six of her brothers. Her brother Ivan said she was the best athlete of all of them.

In 2024, she made a joyful return to Judge Memorial, which remains full of lifelong friends (and children and grandchildren of friends). Surrounded by three of her great-grandchildren, the former Snack Shack was rededicated as “Flo’s Cafe” in her honor. She was so delighted to see everyone and relive happy memories.

She loved flowers, chocolates, and people of all kinds. She was deeply involved in her community and known for her strength of character.

Florence was deeply grateful for the care she received from her son and daughter-in-law Richard and Celeste Holtshouser, and her hospice nurse Laura.

Those wishing to honor Flo are encouraged to do an act of kindness in her memory.

She is survived by her children Ruth (Clarence) Kimmett of Aurora, CO, Richard (Celeste) Holtshouser, of Riverton, UT, Jean VanDongen (Walt Corbin) of Oak Harbor, WA, and Joseph (Gloria) Holtshouser of Aurora, CO. She leaves behind grandchildren Charles and Chris Holtshouser, Kara (Curtis) Urban, Sara (Kalob) Dyer, Jessica (Stephen) Mandala, Paul (Amanda) Roberson, Rebecca (Chris) Thompson, Judy (Ryan) Householder, Justin (Becky) VanDongen, Krista (Coral) VanDongen, Brian (Allie) Holtshouser. She is survived by siblings Ivan Christensen, Kathryn Widman, and Ralph Christensen, and many, many nieces and nephews. She leaves behind 24 beloved great-grandchildren: Savannah Hudson, Connor, Jacob, and Spencer Holtshouser, Austin and Miranda Holtshouser, Bella and Freya Dyer, Grayson and Lily Urban, Stella and Roman Mandala, Kaia and Arya Roberson, Gabriel and William Thompson, Jax, Ryker and Miles Householder, Jocelyn Kennedy, Wren VanDongen, Katje VanDongen, and Hannah and Hunter Holtshouser.

She is delighted to be reunited in heaven with her husband Herbert Wendell Holtshouser, daughter Sr. Ruth (Barbara Ann) Holtshouser, son Wayne Holtshouser, parents Rachel (Schiess) & Arnold Christensen, siblings Arnie, Dave, Owen, Wesley and Lynn Christensen, and granddaughter Ann Marie Holtshouser.

A Celebration of Life will be held on August 15, 2026 from 3:00 – 6:00 PM at Starks Funeral Parlor, 3651 South 900 East.  Guests are encouraged to use the parking and entrance on the north side of the building.