Florin C. Beller, 84, passed away October 20, 2015, in Salmon, Idaho. Florin was born February 13, 1931, to Claude F. and LaVerne P. Beller, in Hamilton, Montana, and was the youngest of four children. Florin came to Salmon at age nine with his family in search of greener pastures, after the barn on their farm burned down. He spent the rest of his school years in Salmon and graduated in 1949. Florin was a very good athlete, participating in football, basketball, and track. As his good friend and teammate, Ron Cooper said, “He was a real athlete…I was just a fat slow kid that got in his way.”
The first person Florin met in Salmon was Bradley Negus, and he asked if Florin would like to meet the prettiest girl in Salmon. Florin said, “Of course I would!” That was the day he met Mitzi Swift. There was an immediate connection. From then on, they – literally – grew up together; riding horses and enjoying a friendship that blossomed into a loving marriage lasting 65 years.
Florin was the town’s shoeshine boy in his teenage years, going from saloon to saloon, polishing the shoes of gamblers and businessmen. One of his customers was Paul McPherson. Florin was always hitting him up for a job and Paul always replied, “Not until you graduate, Florin!” So, as soon as that happened, he was at McPherson’s asking for a job and he was hired, true to Paul McPherson’s word. That was the start of a 35-year adventure that led to Florin and Mitzi owning McPherson’s Dry Goods Co. Outright. During his business years, Florin was very community service-minded. He was the President of the Salmon Jaycees and headed up the original fundraising campaign to build the Lemhi County Historical Museum. He was President of the Salmon Chamber of Commerce when Salmon River Days was started, and helped to raise funds to build the swimming pool on Island Park, Florin was also a lifetime member of the Salmon Elks Lodge #1620. He was active in the Idaho Retailers’ Association, making many friends statewide in retail.
In 1984, Florin announced that he was going to retire and start training race horses, something that he had always wanted to do, leaving the store to his two sons, Ken and Steve. Florin pursued his new venture with the same vigor and energy he had in retail, resulting in a very impressive win percentage. His new career started at Les Bois Park in Boise, then on to Playfair Race Course in Spokane, Washington, and finally at Turf Paradise in Phoenix, Arizona. His most successful horse was Captain Billy Boogie, winning numerous stakes races and setting two track records. Florin retired from horse racing in 1997 for health reasons, but he and Mitzi were able to continue wintering at their Sun City residence until 2010.
Christmas Day, 2013, Florin fell and severely broke his hip, which necessitated continued treatment at the Discovery Care Center until his death, under Mitzi’s loving care. Florin is survived by Mitzi, his wife of 65 years, sons Ken and Steve and their wives Ginny and Diane, grandsons Justin and Brent and their wives Janice and Shyla, and his great grandchildren Jeffrey and Brylee. He is also survived by his sister Bernice Motchika of Boise. He was preceded in death by his parents, Claude and LaVerne, his brother Orin, and sister Grace.
A celebration of life was held on October 28, 2015 at 1:00 p.m., at the Salmon Elks Lodge. Memorials can be made to the Lemhi County Historical Museum at 210 Main St, in Florin’s name, or to your favorite charity. Arrangements by Jones & Casey Funeral Home. www.jonesandcaseyfh.com
The first person Florin met in Salmon was Bradley Negus, and he asked if Florin would like to meet the prettiest girl in Salmon. Florin said, “Of course I would!” That was the day he met Mitzi Swift. There was an immediate connection. From then on, they – literally – grew up together; riding horses and enjoying a friendship that blossomed into a loving marriage lasting 65 years.
Florin was the town’s shoeshine boy in his teenage years, going from saloon to saloon, polishing the shoes of gamblers and businessmen. One of his customers was Paul McPherson. Florin was always hitting him up for a job and Paul always replied, “Not until you graduate, Florin!” So, as soon as that happened, he was at McPherson’s asking for a job and he was hired, true to Paul McPherson’s word. That was the start of a 35-year adventure that led to Florin and Mitzi owning McPherson’s Dry Goods Co. Outright. During his business years, Florin was very community service-minded. He was the President of the Salmon Jaycees and headed up the original fundraising campaign to build the Lemhi County Historical Museum. He was President of the Salmon Chamber of Commerce when Salmon River Days was started, and helped to raise funds to build the swimming pool on Island Park, Florin was also a lifetime member of the Salmon Elks Lodge #1620. He was active in the Idaho Retailers’ Association, making many friends statewide in retail.
In 1984, Florin announced that he was going to retire and start training race horses, something that he had always wanted to do, leaving the store to his two sons, Ken and Steve. Florin pursued his new venture with the same vigor and energy he had in retail, resulting in a very impressive win percentage. His new career started at Les Bois Park in Boise, then on to Playfair Race Course in Spokane, Washington, and finally at Turf Paradise in Phoenix, Arizona. His most successful horse was Captain Billy Boogie, winning numerous stakes races and setting two track records. Florin retired from horse racing in 1997 for health reasons, but he and Mitzi were able to continue wintering at their Sun City residence until 2010.
Christmas Day, 2013, Florin fell and severely broke his hip, which necessitated continued treatment at the Discovery Care Center until his death, under Mitzi’s loving care. Florin is survived by Mitzi, his wife of 65 years, sons Ken and Steve and their wives Ginny and Diane, grandsons Justin and Brent and their wives Janice and Shyla, and his great grandchildren Jeffrey and Brylee. He is also survived by his sister Bernice Motchika of Boise. He was preceded in death by his parents, Claude and LaVerne, his brother Orin, and sister Grace.
A celebration of life was held on October 28, 2015 at 1:00 p.m., at the Salmon Elks Lodge. Memorials can be made to the Lemhi County Historical Museum at 210 Main St, in Florin’s name, or to your favorite charity. Arrangements by Jones & Casey Funeral Home. www.jonesandcaseyfh.com
Florin C. Beller, 84, passed away October 20, 2015, in Salmon, Idaho. Florin was born February 13, 1931, to Claude F. and LaVerne P. Beller, in Hamilton, Montana, and was the youngest of four children. Florin came to Salmon at age nine with his family in search of greener pastures, after the barn on their farm burned down. He spent the rest of his school years in Salmon and graduated in 1949. Florin was a very good athlete, participating in football, basketball, and track. As his good friend and teammate, Ron Cooper said, “He was a real athlete…I was just a fat slow kid that got in his way.”
The first person Florin met in Salmon was Bradley Negus, and he asked if Florin would like to meet the prettiest girl in Salmon. Florin said, “Of course I would!” That was the day he met Mitzi Swift. There was an immediate connection. From then on, they – literally – grew up together; riding horses and enjoying a friendship that blossomed into a loving marriage lasting 65 years.
Florin was the town’s shoeshine boy in his teenage years, going from saloon to saloon, polishing the shoes of gamblers and businessmen. One of his customers was Paul McPherson. Florin was always hitting him up for a job and Paul always replied, “Not until you graduate, Florin!” So, as soon as that happened, he was at McPherson’s asking for a job and he was hired, true to Paul McPherson’s word. That was the start of a 35-year adventure that led to Florin and Mitzi owning McPherson’s Dry Goods Co. Outright. During his business years, Florin was very community service-minded. He was the President of the Salmon Jaycees and headed up the original fundraising campaign to build the Lemhi County Historical Museum. He was President of the Salmon Chamber of Commerce when Salmon River Days was started, and helped to raise funds to build the swimming pool on Island Park, Florin was also a lifetime member of the Salmon Elks Lodge #1620. He was active in the Idaho Retailers’ Association, making many friends statewide in retail.
In 1984, Florin announced that he was going to retire and start training race horses, something that he had always wanted to do, leaving the store to his two sons, Ken and Steve. Florin pursued his new venture with the same vigor and energy he had in retail, resulting in a very impressive win percentage. His new career started at Les Bois Park in Boise, then on to Playfair Race Course in Spokane, Washington, and finally at Turf Paradise in Phoenix, Arizona. His most successful horse was Captain Billy Boogie, winning numerous stakes races and setting two track records. Florin retired from horse racing in 1997 for health reasons, but he and Mitzi were able to continue wintering at their Sun City residence until 2010.
Christmas Day, 2013, Florin fell and severely broke his hip, which necessitated continued treatment at the Discovery Care Center until his death, under Mitzi’s loving care. Florin is survived by Mitzi, his wife of 65 years, sons Ken and Steve and their wives Ginny and Diane, grandsons Justin and Brent and their wives Janice and Shyla, and his great grandchildren Jeffrey and Brylee. He is also survived by his sister Bernice Motchika of Boise. He was preceded in death by his parents, Claude and LaVerne, his brother Orin, and sister Grace.
A celebration of life was held on October 28, 2015 at 1:00 p.m., at the Salmon Elks Lodge. Memorials can be made to the Lemhi County Historical Museum at 210 Main St, in Florin’s name, or to your favorite charity. Arrangements by Jones & Casey Funeral Home. www.jonesandcaseyfh.com
The first person Florin met in Salmon was Bradley Negus, and he asked if Florin would like to meet the prettiest girl in Salmon. Florin said, “Of course I would!” That was the day he met Mitzi Swift. There was an immediate connection. From then on, they – literally – grew up together; riding horses and enjoying a friendship that blossomed into a loving marriage lasting 65 years.
Florin was the town’s shoeshine boy in his teenage years, going from saloon to saloon, polishing the shoes of gamblers and businessmen. One of his customers was Paul McPherson. Florin was always hitting him up for a job and Paul always replied, “Not until you graduate, Florin!” So, as soon as that happened, he was at McPherson’s asking for a job and he was hired, true to Paul McPherson’s word. That was the start of a 35-year adventure that led to Florin and Mitzi owning McPherson’s Dry Goods Co. Outright. During his business years, Florin was very community service-minded. He was the President of the Salmon Jaycees and headed up the original fundraising campaign to build the Lemhi County Historical Museum. He was President of the Salmon Chamber of Commerce when Salmon River Days was started, and helped to raise funds to build the swimming pool on Island Park, Florin was also a lifetime member of the Salmon Elks Lodge #1620. He was active in the Idaho Retailers’ Association, making many friends statewide in retail.
In 1984, Florin announced that he was going to retire and start training race horses, something that he had always wanted to do, leaving the store to his two sons, Ken and Steve. Florin pursued his new venture with the same vigor and energy he had in retail, resulting in a very impressive win percentage. His new career started at Les Bois Park in Boise, then on to Playfair Race Course in Spokane, Washington, and finally at Turf Paradise in Phoenix, Arizona. His most successful horse was Captain Billy Boogie, winning numerous stakes races and setting two track records. Florin retired from horse racing in 1997 for health reasons, but he and Mitzi were able to continue wintering at their Sun City residence until 2010.
Christmas Day, 2013, Florin fell and severely broke his hip, which necessitated continued treatment at the Discovery Care Center until his death, under Mitzi’s loving care. Florin is survived by Mitzi, his wife of 65 years, sons Ken and Steve and their wives Ginny and Diane, grandsons Justin and Brent and their wives Janice and Shyla, and his great grandchildren Jeffrey and Brylee. He is also survived by his sister Bernice Motchika of Boise. He was preceded in death by his parents, Claude and LaVerne, his brother Orin, and sister Grace.
A celebration of life was held on October 28, 2015 at 1:00 p.m., at the Salmon Elks Lodge. Memorials can be made to the Lemhi County Historical Museum at 210 Main St, in Florin’s name, or to your favorite charity. Arrangements by Jones & Casey Funeral Home. www.jonesandcaseyfh.com
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