Florence Middagh Dilley

Florence Clara Middagh was born on September 20, 1908 or 1909 in Monticello, Wright County, Minnesota [Social Security Administration. Social Security Death Index, Master File via Ancestry.com; #1909-32760, Minnesota Birth Certificates Index. Minnesota Historical Society via Ancestry.com; Obituary, Hibbing Daily Tribune, April 16, 2005].

In 1920, her family is listed in the census record for Buffalo and Maple Lake Road in Buffalo, Wright County, Minnesota.  Her father rented a farm and her maternal grandfather lived with them [1920 census ED #83 (January 6, 1920)].

Florence attended school through the 8th grade [1940 census, ED #34-21 (April 5, 1940)].

Florence married Ray Dilley on March 20, 1926.

The Dilleys lived in New London, Kandiyohi County, Minnesota.  In 1930, Ray was doing odd jobs and they paid $8/month to rent their house [1930 census ED #34-22 (April 10, 1930)].  In that census, they were also listed right below the record for Ray’s parents and siblings.  In 1940, he was working as a truck driver on a WPA road project [1940 census, ED #34-21 (April 5, 1940)].

In 1942, they moved to Hibbing, St. Louis County, Minnesota where Ray worked for the iron mines [Mining Accidents Record, June 5, 1943, p29, and Obituary Record, CB584, 1969, Iron Range Research Center, Chisholm].  They moved the house to 3918 4th Ave. E. in South Hibbing in the late 1940s.  Ray died in 1969 [Obituary Record, CB584, 1969, Iron Range Research Center].

3918 4th Ave. E. on Google Street View:

Florence loved knitting, crocheting and needlework, as well as creating, painting, and firing ceramics at her home, which she sold from a little shop in the front one-story addition they built onto the house.

Florence with great-grandchildren, 1992, Hibbing.

Florence died on April 14, 2005 at the Leisure Hills Health Care Center in Hibbing, Minnesota.  Her funeral was held at First Presbyterian Church in Hibbing and officiated by Reverend Jim Splitt.  She was buried at Maple Hill Cemetery [Obituary, Hibbing Daily Tribune, April 16, 2005].

Florence Middagh Dilley

Born: September 20, 1908 or 1909

Died: April 14, 2005

Parents: Gilbert H. Middagh and Dolly Stevens

Spouse: Ray Dilley

Children:

• Edward Ray (May 11, 1926-August 8, 1992): m. Joyce Dumais
• Richard H.: b. April 20, 1928, New London; d. December 26, 2015, Hibbing; m. Bonnie Galatz
• Evelyn F. (b/d. 1931)
• Living
• Living
• Living
• Samuel Gilbert (October 24, 1947-June 21, 1977)

Lineage to ATSD:

1. Florence Middagh
2. Living