October 13, 2026

Linn County News

Published October 14, 2026

Florine was born Sept. 9, 1924, on a small farm outside Prescott, Kan., the youngest of six children, to A.E and Florence Holmes. As spoiled as one could possibly be during the Great Depression, she still managed to keep a fairly level head as she made her way to adulthood. During a brief stint as clerk at the Linn County courthouse, she met and married Harold O’Rourke and the couple began life together in the home of her aunt in Mound City, Kan. After the birth of their first son, Dennis, the couple relocated to Pleasanton, Kan., where Harold worked several jobs and Florine took in sewing. Since Dennis seemed to be turning out reasonably well, the couple decided to toss the dice and have another child, Randal. Results are still pending on the outcome of this particular gamble.

While attempting to civilize the couple’s two sons, Florine continued to make clothes for people around town and began babysitting for friends and extended family. Somehow, this still left time for coffee and phone conversations with close friends. Listening in on the rare occasions work didn’t keep him out of the house; Harold was astonished that there were enough words in the language to keep the chats going. Both before and after Harold’s death she worked at the Prescott Nursing Home, then at the Labette Bank.

On retirement from the bank, Florine found a second home, and countless new friends, working as a seasonal employee behind the front desk of Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel in Yellowstone National Park for the next 25 years. She became known as the Yellowstone Grandma, annually “adopting” several new “children” and “grandchildren” from among her new, younger colleagues who came to work summers in the park. Many of these stayed in close contact with Florine for decades.

Following her second career in Yellowstone, conversation almost always, eventually, returned to her time and friends in Wyoming, Montana, and beyond. Moving to Meadowlark Estates in Lawrence, Kan., in her mid-90’s came easier to her than she, or any of us, had anticipated. At Meadowlark she found more dear friends than she thought were possibly left in the world that could be hers to enjoy. She also became known as the Bear Lady in honor of the hundreds of Teddy Bears she made for
donation to agencies aiding children in need.

Always reluctant to leave a party that was still going strong, Florine finally departed on Oct. 11, 2026, at age 102. Florine was preceded in death by her parents; all five siblings; and her husband, Harold O’Rourke. She is survived by sons, Dennis (Tamia) and Randal (Iris); five grandchildren; Andrew (Michelle) O’Rourke, Sean (Stacy) O’Rourke, Jamie O’Rourke, Kelly (Mark) Grabendike, and Darcy (Tyler) Huismann; nine Great-Grandchildren; three Great-Great-grandchildren; and multiple nieces and nephews whom she thoroughly enjoyed.

Visitation will be at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 17, at Schneider Funeral Home in Pleasanton, followed by services in the Schneider Chapel at 11 a.m. Interment will follow in Pleasanton Cemetery, Pleasanton, Kan.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a contribution to The United Methodist Church of Pleasanton, The American Heart Association, Harvesters, or your favorite charity.