Florence Gertrude was born on February 17, 1925, at Wales, ND, to Albert and Mary Eva Bachmann Rohde. She received her eight years of education, along with her thirteen brothers and sisters, at the country school near their farm. With the exception of a short period working as a housekeeper in St. Paul, she spent her next years at home working in the fields and helping out on the farm wherever needed. On June 10, 1947, she married John Liebersbach at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Wales, ND. They lived on the Liebersbach farm west of Nekoma where they raised their family of nine children.
Being the typical farm wife with a large family, she was up at the crack of dawn to help milk the cows, planting a large garden, baking, cooking, canning, and sewing clothes for the family until late at night. In addition, when the missile base opened near Nekoma, she started cooking at the NCO Club, which led to over a 20 year career as a cook in various restaurants in Langdon.
She was a member of St. Edward’s Altar Society, and after John passed, she moved to Langdon and became involved in Catholic Daughters and the Eagles and Maple Manor Auxiliaries. She also enjoyed playing cards with her ladies group and bingo and games at the Senior Center. Throughout the years she enjoyed traveling, whether it be to visit her children and relatives who lived out of state, sites in the tri-state area or one of her favorites - a trip to Australia and New Zealand. She also enjoyed TV game shows and word finds. All her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, along with other relatives, were recipients of her embroidered dishtowels or pillowcase sets. She was so proud of her children and grandchildren and, when possible, would attend their activities and special events in their lives.
Florence is survived by her nine children: Sharlene (Earl) McGregor, Audrey (Joe) Hopper, Martha Crenshaw, Albert (Helen), Norbert (Susan), Eva Burnham, Edward (Karen), Wayne (Lisa), and Steven; 14 grandchildren and 31 great-grandchildren. Also surviving her are her brother and sister-in-law, Charles and Dianne Rohde; sister-in-law Selina Rohde; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, John, in 1992; her parents; grandsons Eric and Brian Liebersbach; son-in-law Curtis Burnham; eight sisters: Julia, Odilia, Mary, Lucy, Rita, Angeline, Laura and Theresa; and five brothers: George, Leo, Walter, Robert and infant Vincent.
The family would like to extend their sincere appreciation to the staff of the Osnabrock Community Living Center for the companionship and care they gave Mom during her over three-year stay in their care.
Should anyone wish to give a memorial in Florence’s memory, the family suggests either St. Edward’s Catholic Cemetery Maintenance Fund in Nekoma or Osnabrock Community Living Center.