Lawrence L. Flower was born on March 23, 1928, to Claude A. and Ocie (Cannon) Flower in Nelson, Neb. He spent his childhood years in Nelson and graduated from Nelson High School in 1946.
He enlisted in the army upon his graduation and served in Korea — post-WWII, pre-Korean War. After his discharge, he attended Nebraska State College at Kearney where he graduated in 1951 with degrees in English and education.
He married Virginia Mason that same year and was a teacher and coach for five years. To this union were born Vicki, Pamela and Robert.
Known as “Dutch” for his entire life, he entered the business world with the Travelers Insurance Company in Omaha in 1956.
He was later transferred to Grand Island and then to Sacramento, Calif. From there he transferred to Long Beach and then on to the Orange County office where he worked until his retirement in 1981.
Because he was always interested in travel, he completed “travel school,” became an agent and traveled extensively from that point on.
In 1985, a mutual friend introduced him to Kathleen M. Benadom with whom he found “the love of his life.” They traveled to Salzburg, Austria to be married, marking the beginnings of adventures that took them to 57 countries.
While still living in Orange, Calif., they began extended visiting in Nelson, Neb., and decided to buy a second home there in 1992. They spent winter months in California and summer months in Nebraska, with the exception of one difficult winter when they remained in Nebraska as Dutch successfully battled lymphoma.
Perhaps most notably, Dutch was a life-long University of Nebraska Cornhuskers fan and season-ticket holder, even making a fan of his football-averse wife. Whether in person or on cable television, Husker football was serious business.
In July, 2010, he and Kathleen sold their California and Nebraska homes and moved to Coupeville.
Kathleen’s father had retired from the Navy there in the mid-1950s and she had two sisters, Nancy and Maureen Conard, living there who encouraged Dutch and Kathleen to join them. They became members of the United Methodist Church and were happy to have come to this beautiful island and become members of this fortunate community.
All too soon, Dutch’s failing health required full-time nursing care at Careage of Whidbey, in addition to Kathleen’s loving care. After nearly two years, he passed away on Friday, Jan. 13, in the company of his wife and Pastor Jin Ming Ma.
Surviving family members include his wife Kathleen; daughter Vicki Minerva, her husband George and their daughters Natalie and Lindsey; daughter Pamela Sorensen, her husband Dane and their daughters Kylie and Erin; son Robert Flower, his wife Manuela, their daughter Brianna and son Nolan; stepdaughter Cheryl Phillips, her husband Lance, their daughter Laura and son Mark. It will fall to them to tell great-granddaughter Everleigh Grace and those that follow all about their sweet and loving great-grandpa Dutch.
Preceding Dutch in death were his parents and brothers Winston (“Stormy”) and Duane (“Bucky”).
A memorial service will be held in the spring at Coupeville United Methodist Church in Coupeville, with Pastor Jin Ming Ma presiding.
Arrangements are entrusted to Wallin Funeral Home, Oak Harbor.
