Her mansion was ready.  In the last days of her life, Florence Ramsburg Chisolm, at age 95, said she would be ready when the Lord had her mansion completed. She entered it on March 6, 2025. The daughter of the late Harry S. Ramsburg and Alma Summers Ramsburg, Florence died in Rapid City, SD.  Married for 51 years, she was preceded in death by her husband John J. Chisolm III (Jack); her son John J. IV; her siblings Harry Jr, Charles, Mary, and Calvin; and her son-in-law Dr. Peter Ruehlman.

Born in Adamstown, Maryland Jan. 31, 1930, she was educated at Baltimore City Hospital in their Nursing Program. As an Air Force wife, she lived in Alaska, Minnesota, Florida, North Dakota; and New York State while her husband served in Vietnam. They were stationed at Ellsworth AFB near Rapid City, SD, in 1969. Upon Jack's Air Force retirement, they moved into Rapid City and civilian life, starting Wykota, the family business.  They spent over 50 years in South Dakota.

Florence worked as a nurse in Frederick, and at Baltimore City Hospital, married, and then raised 6 children; often alone while her husband was deployed. She and the children stayed in Florida where she managed their mobile home park. While Jack was in Vietnam, she worked as a school aide, to be near the children. Florence returned to nursing at the old St. John's Hospital in Rapid City soon after Jack started civilian life.  She was on duty during the 1972 Rapid City Flood.  Later, she taught Food and Nutrition for SDSU, retiring in the late 1990's.

She taught her children to volunteer by example, whether it was teaching Sunday school, volunteering at the YMCA, serving as the church camp nurse,  volunteering at church, or holding almost every office in the North Rapid Civic Association.  She and her husband were proud members and volunteers in Shriners and Order of the Eastern Star. She earned her 50-year Eastern Star pin after holding offices and serving as the Shrine Circus "Lost and Found Lady" for over 20 years.

She is survived by her children: Debra (the late Peter) Ruehlman of Cincinnati, OH; Gary (Joanne) Chisolm of Granville, OH; Linda (Wayne) Boyer of Rapid City; Kenneth (Lillian) Chisolm of Aurora, CO; Gregory (Krista) Chisolm of Rapid City; and 13 grandchildren: Rebecca (Christopher) Kulig and Matthew Ruehlman; Katharine, Christopher, and Alexander Chisolm; Philip Habermehl; Laura and David Boyer; John J. Chisolm V, Melissa (Tyler) Anders, and Christian Chisolm; Duncan and Mallory Chisolm; and 4 great-grandchildren: Tristan Anders; Philip Jr, Kaylee, and Tristan Habermehl.

Her Funeral Service will be on Monday, March 17 at First United Methodist Church in Rapid City, with Visitation at 9, Funeral at 10:30, Reception and Burial following. A video recording will be posted later for those who cannot attend.

Florence will be buried with her husband at the Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis, SD. Memorials may be made to Florence's home church:

The Harmony Church of the Brethren

3924 Brethren Church Road

Myersville, MD  21773

or to

The John J. Chisolm IV Memorial Scholarship Fund

South Dakota School of Mines & Technology

330 East Kansas City Street

Rapid City SD 57701.

To view the memorial slideshow, please visit the following link: Click Here