Florence Pauline Batt, 91, of Russell, Kansas, died on Wednesday, March 07, 2018, at the Via Christi Village in Wichita, Kansas.

Florence was born on October 24, 1926, in Bunker Hill, Kansas, the daughter of David and Pauline (Ehrlich) Keil.  She was Baptized in the Trinity Lutheran Church on November 1, 1926.  She loved the LORD, and attended the St. John Lutheran church in Russell. She enjoyed entertaining, as she had the gift of hospitality. Florence also served on the Altar Guild committee.  She excelled in school having a love and passion for reading and learning. Although she was only able to attend up to the 8th grade, Florence did not let that stop her, as she earned her GED and then took many college courses.  Florence was very creative and artistic, and took up China painting in 1976. She developed a great love for her China painting and even would have her granddaughters along side teaching them about her hobby. Many pieces that she painted were given as gifts to family and friends, as she made a note stating that she did not paint to sell, but to share with loved ones.  

Spending time in her yard was another passion. She loved being outside gardening and spending hours in her yard, especially in the morning picking garden berries, putting up her fruits of labor by canning or freezing her produce.  Bird watching was another fun past time for Florence.  She traveled and sung with the Sweet Adeline choir for several years.  Other hobbies of Florence were golf, cards, especially bridge, belonging to several bridge clubs, dancing, especially square dancing, and most of all a great love for travel, which she did with the FCE group. 

Florence was a member and served many years with the American Legion and VFW, along with helping with the Scouts.  In her later years she enjoyed researching and collecting information on the schools in Russell Co., eventually having a book published. Florence enjoyed studying and researching the Volga German history as this was her ancestral  heritage.  She was a business woman at heart, selling Luziers, a hypoallergenic makeup, and managing the farming after her husband's passed.  Last but not least Florence thoroughly enjoyed her family, especially her grandchildren.  She was always ready to fix a meal, and loved planning for the holidays baking and cooking those German dishes passed down from her mother.

A celebration of Florence's life will be held at 10:30 AM, Wednesday, March 14, 2018 at the St. John Lutheran Church in Russell, Kansas.  A Graveside Service will be at 2:00 PM, Wednesday at the Hoisington City Cemetery in Hoisington, Kansas. Visitation will be held from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Tuesday, March 13, 2018 at Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary, with the family present to greet friends from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM.  Memorials have been established with St. John Lutheran Church or the High Plaines Humane Society.  Contributions and condolences may be sent to Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell, Kansas, who is in charge of the funeral service arrangements.