RAPID CITY- Sister Florence McManamen, 88, died on July 10, 2017 at Rapid City Regional Hospital in Rapid City after a short illness.

Anne Elizabeth McManamen was born March 24, 1929 in Lone Pine, Wyoming, the daughter of Florence and John McManamen. She, with her parents and three brothers, lived on '85 Divide Ranch, where they helped in the fields and with the cattle. Anne and her brothers learned spirituality and Christian values through the faith and dedication of her parents. Her junior and senior years of high school were at St. Martin's Academy in Sturgis, SD. Homesickness took its toll in the first semester, but by the close of the senior year, Anne felt God's Call to enter the Benedictine Order. She entered as a postulant on September 8, 1947. Sr. Florence received the Benedictine Habit and white veil of a Novice and her mother's name the following June. She made Temporary Profession June 27, 1949 and Final Profession July 5, 1952

The September following her first profession, after two months of summer school, she taught third and fourth graders at St. Ambrose School in Deadwood. Thus, began her lifetime ministry as teacher or principal.

Sr. Florence received her B.A. from Ursuline College at Louisville, Kentucky, and her Masters at Loras College, Dubuque, Iowa.

She was novice director in 1961 and 1962.

Sister Florence taught at St. Ambrose in Deadwood, St. Mary's in Lemmon, St. Martin's in Sturgis, St. John the Evangelist in Rapid City, and Our Lady of Fatima in Casper, WY. Sister Florence served as Principal of St. Ambrose, St. John the Evangelist, Our Lady of Fatima, St. Catherine School in Laguna Beach, CA. and St. Margaret's School in Riverton, WY.

Sister Florence served as prioress from 1992-2000 after which she ministered through a "Traveling Enrichment Center" for four years before going to be principal at St. Margaret's School in Riverton, WY.

After returning from Riverton in 2010 Sister Florence "retired". In her "retirement" she oversaw the kitchen at the Monastery, watered the plants at Terra Sancta, taught CCD at St. Therese Parish and Summer Catechism Classes in Rapid City, Wyoming and Montana. She read to the fifth graders at Seton School, volunteered for Totus Tuus, and tended a large rhubarb patch and a small garden. As the person in charge of Hospitality she made every guest welcome and offered breakfast for the "coffee hour" after daily Mass.

Sr. Florence's enthusiasm and humor are her hallmarks. She loved clowning and making people laugh. Sr. Florence always had a story to tell and always promised to write a book about her experiences.

Sr. Florence had a sense of God being always with her. She wrote, "I have had many wonderful experiences in my life." Before she died, she said, "I am not afraid, I have lived my whole life for this."

Sr. Florence is survived by her Benedictine Community, her brother Paul (Lynn) McManamen, two nieces and two nephews and many grand nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents and two brothers.

Visitation begins at 5:30 PM on Wednesday, July 12, in St. Martin Monastery Chapel. This will be followed by a Vigil Service at 6:30 PM in St. Martin Monastery Chapel.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, July 13, at 2:00 PM at Holy Cross Chapel, Terra Sancta with Rev. Michel Mulloy presiding. Burial will be in St. Martin Cemetery.