Florence (Coppersmith) Challe

Lifespan: 1932-08-30 — 2020-07-05

Summary

Florence was born in Green Bay, Wisconsin, one of six children of Claude and Marie (Bodoh) Coppersmith. She married Alton Challe on March 3, 1951 in Lawton, Oklahoma. They celebrated 69 years together and raised six children.

The family moved from Green Bay to Butler, Alabama in 1957, then to Oregon in 1969 — arriving a week before a major snowstorm. Florence owned Challe Real Estate and Property Management for 35 years, serving the Santa Clara and Junction City area. It became a family business with multiple children and grandchildren involved.

She was devoutly Catholic — active at St. Peter Catholic Church in Eugene and later St. Helen Catholic Church in Junction City. Described as a “prayer warrior,” often seen with a rosary in hand. She made holidays — Christmas, Easter, Halloween — special occasions for her large family (12 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren).

Known for her smile, laugh, and willingness to help others without hesitation. From the memoir: when Don’s family visited Oregon (~1983), Aunt Flo arranged a trip to Mt. St. Helens, drove the kids to the Pacific Ocean, and bought Don a jar of volcanic ash. She “worked hard at it” — making up for the distance between Oregon and Wisconsin, asking questions and actually listening to the answers.

Marie Coppersmith was living with Florence in Oregon when she died in 1998.

Preceded in death by siblings Robert, Leonard, Roger Coppersmith, and Dorothy Krumpos. Survived by brother Ronnie Coppersmith. Son Alan Challe preceded her in death (July 19, 2019). Donations requested for Alzheimer’s Association.

Relationships

• Parents: Claude Coppersmith & Marie (Bodoh) Coppersmith
• Spouse: Alton F. Challe (m. 1951-03-03, Lawton, Oklahoma)
• Siblings: Dorothy (Coppersmith) Krumpos, Leonard Coppersmith, Ronald “Ronnie” Coppersmith, Roger H. Coppersmith, Robert Coppersmith

Sources

• Obituary, The Register-Guard (Eugene, OR), July 2020 (transcribed in full in sources/obituaries/).
• Memoir chapters: “The Oregon Trip” (1983), “Great-Grandma Coppersmith.”

Research Notes

• Alton “Al” Challe — no file yet. Lawton, Oklahoma marriage suggests possible military connection (Fort Sill).