Florence “Babe” Burnison, 101, died January 7, 2009, in Faith Lutheran Home, Wolf Point, where she had been a resident since 1994 after suffering a stroke during open heart surgery.
Mrs. Burnison, owned and taught Kiddie Korner Kindergarten from 1946 until retiring in 1976. She was active in community affairs and was instrumental in the formation of Girl Scouts in Wolf Point, serving as president of the Girl Scout Association for eight years. Mrs. Burnison contributed her time and energy to the community serving as PTA president, vice president of the Soroptimist Club, president of the American Legion Auxiliary, and was active in Eastern Star and the Wolf Point “100” Club. Mrs. Burnison became a member of the First Presbyterian Church on April 21, 1935. Babe taught Sunday School, Vacation Bible School and served as Chairman of the White Elephant Sale at the Presbyterian Bazaar for many years. She also served as a church elder.
In later years she was a founding member of an informal social group, the “Golden Girls”. She was a published poet and enjoyed quilting, gardening and crafts. Babe loved to travel and enjoyed visits with family and friends in various parts of the country.
Born in Esmond, North Dakota, on October 6, 1907, the daughter of Kathleen and Carl Huyssen, she was the youngest of six children. Babe graduated from Valley City State College, Valley City, North Dakota, and taught grade school in that state. On July 15, 1934, she married W. E. “Bill” Burnison, a lifelong resident of Wolf Point. While contributing to the growth of Wolf Point during the two decades after World War II, the Burnisons raised a family of three children. Bill preceded his wife in death, passing away in 1985.
The contributions of Mrs. Burnison are shown through the lives of the hundreds of children that she touched through her many years in the field of education. Her immediate family survivors include son William Burnison and wife Jeanne of Tucson, Arizona; son Kent Burnison and wife Gayle of Burlington, Ontario; daughter Kathleen Ylinen and husband Bob of Houston, Texas; sister-in-law Helen Huyssen of Laguna Niguel, California; and a special niece, Pat Henry of Wolf Point. Mrs. Burnison was “Grandma Babe” to nine grandchildren; Shaughn and Scott Burnison, Lisa Burnison Danforth; Kyle and Judd Ylinen, Deborah Ylinen Smith; Greg, Kevin and Laura Burnison and three great-grandchildren, William and Madeline Danforth and Ainsley Burnison.
Services will be 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, January 14 at Clayton-Stevenson Memorial Chapel with burial in Greenwood Cemetery.
In fulfillment of her wishes, memorial contributions may be made to the Wolf Point “100” Club, Box 1001, Wolf Point, Montana, 59201.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.stevensonandsons.com. Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel in Wolf Point has been entrusted with the arrangements.