Florence Japhet

Durango resident Florence C. Japhet died Tuesday, January 3, 2012, in Durango. She was 91.

Mrs. Japhet was born to Lloyd and Estella Rudolph in Scott City, Kan., on August 29, 1920. She grew up on the Rudolph farm northwest of Scott City. She had many vivid memories as a child growing up during the Great Depression and in the Dust Bowl. Florence recalled that her father tied a rope from their house to the barn so they could find their way during the dust storms of the 1930’s. Florence milked four cows each morning before leaving for town to attend high school. The milk and cream were sold so the Rudolph children could attend school.

After she graduated from high school, Florence worked as a cook on the Bilby Ranch in Logan County, Kansas. There she met her future husband, who invited her on a horseback ride for their first date. The date ended abruptly when the horse she was riding spooked and ran a quarter of a mile along a barbed wire fence, badly injuring her leg. Her future husband carried her to the ranch house and a doctor was summoned. Fortunately, Florence fully recovered and in 1941 she was married to Donald Japhet in Scott City, Kansas. The newlyweds moved to Wichita, Kansas, and worked in the Boeing airplane factory, helping to manufacture B-29 heavy bombers. Due to an old injury, Donald was unable to serve in the military, but the couple further aided the war effort by raising cattle on the Rudolph family farm during World War II.

Throughout their lives, Don and Florence Japhet worked together as a team on several family-owned businesses. They raised cattle in Scott County, Kansas and Alamosa County, Colo., in the 1950’s. During the 1960’s, Florence was the “right-hand man” in the family-owned wholesale food business in Lakewood, Colo. They owned and operated the Central Motel in Fort Morgan, Colo., from 1972 until their retirement in 1977. The Japhets moved to Durango in 1988 to be close to their grandchildren.

Florence was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. At 91, she was the family matriarch; always a loving and stabilizing influence. Florence was a wonderful cook, an accomplished seamstress and a fine gardener. She baked individual chocolate or lemon meringue pies for her sons’ birthdays. She made tailored suits for herself and sewed dresses for her granddaughter. Her crochet work won blue ribbons at the La Plata County Fair. For the last two years, Mrs. Japhet lived at Sunshine Gardens West, where she grew to love the staff and residents.

Mrs. Japhet was preceded in death by her husband of 66 years, Donald F. Japhet. She is survived by her sons Michael Japhet of Durango and Thomas Japhet of Vinita, Okla.; and brother Lowell Rudolph of Scott City, Kansas; and two grandchildren, Cynthia and Scott.

A celebration of life will be held at 1 p.m. Monday, January 9, 2012 at Sunshine Gardens West, 25 Sunshine Court, in Durango. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to Mercy Home Health and Hospice, 1 Mercado Street, Suite 270, Durango, Co 81301.