Obituary of Florence Lorene Lutz

Written and provided by family. On September 15, 2025, Florence Lorene Lutz passed away peacefully, surrounded by family at her eldest daughter’s home. She was born September 12, 1930 to Alma (Wolters) and Ted Schwarz in Eden, Idaho. She was baptized and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church in Eden, Idaho, where she attended their parochial school. She attended high school at Concordia in Seward, Nebraska. She married Edward Lutz December 21, 1951 at the Clover Trinity Lutheran Church. She is survived by their 6 children; Stanley (Bonnie) Lutz, Crosbyton, Texas; Brenda (Craig) Roetcisoender, Kendrick, Idaho; Peggy Entzel, East Wenatchee, Washington; Tony (Gwinda) Lutz and Ellen Lutz both of Royal City, Washington; Nancy (Stephen) Bauer, Orondo, Washington. They farmed in southern Idaho until they moved to Othello, Washington in 1957. There they pioneered for five years, farming newly developed land. With a combination of the Columbia Basin Irrigation Project and an opportunity from the G.I. bill, Ed applied for a land drawing and drew a farm 25 miles west of Othello on Highway 26 and Adams Road. In 1962 they leveled the land and built an FHA home. Florence said, “After living in trailers for five years, moving into an actual house on a firm foundation with running water was like moving into a castle.” More ground was purchased and they started growing Concord grapes in 1966. They built a house close to the vineyard property in 1975 and continued farming until Ed retired in 1991, turning the farming over to their son, Tony. Florence was always active in her church, everything from Sunday school, midweek and confirmation classes, to playing for Sunday services, choir, quilting, and we must include the much- anticipated sauerkraut and sausage dish that she usually brought to potlucks. She was an avid practitioner of “A cheerful heart is good medicine”, even if it meant employing plastic spiders, cockroaches, and rubber rats! Her love of home grown food and the joy she got from sharing the bounty with others was a big part of her life. She constantly marveled at the steady flow of God’s handiwork, especially in nature, and if there is one thing she would wish, it is for everyone to experience His incredible love as she has. Florence is survived by her six children, twenty-four grandchildren, and an ever-growing community of great, and great-great grandchildren. The family will have a private burial in Othello, WA at Bess Hampton Memorial Gardens at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, September 25; the funeral service will take place later that day at 1:00 p.m. at Christ the Savior Lutheran Church, 214 Deacon Avenue, George, WA with a luncheon to follow. Suggested memorial may be sent to Worship Anew (online at: https://worshipanew.org/give-now), or Christ the Savior Lutheran Church.