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Flodman Obituary
Ralph “Elton” Flodman, 79, of Hordville, died Monday, January 1, 2024 at CHI St. Francis in Grand Island. Funeral services will be Friday, January 5, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. at Fridhem Lutheran Church in Hordville with Jan Andersen PMA officiating. Visitation will be Thursday, January 4, 2024 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Solt-Wagner Funeral Home in Central City. Burial will be in the Hordville Cemetery.
Memorials are suggested to Fridhem Lutheran Church and the American Legion Post #6 in Central City. Condolences can be sent to the family at www.soltwagnerfuneral.com.
Ralph, better known as Elton, was born on February 3, 1944 in Grand Island, to Ralph V. and Hilda (Ortegren) Flodman. Elton was baptized on February 27, 1944 in the Fridhem Lutheran Church in Hordville and was confirmed on May 29, 1960. He was a lifetime member of the church being choir director, youth leader, and served on the church council for 12 years. He attended grade school (but didn’t go to kindergarten because he ran home every day across the field, so they decided he wouldn’t need to go to kindergarten), and high school in Hordville where he graduated in 1962. He has lived his entire life in the Hordville Community. He attended Bethany College in Lindsborg, KS, majoring in music and ministry. His singing career began in the college choir where (some of his friends teased him about the white shoes he so proudly wore while in choir) he toured the United States presenting concerts, which included the Easter Cantata and Hallelujah Chorus.
He married Sylvia Boyd in 1964. To this union were born Michelle, Troy, and John. In 1966, knowing he would be drafted, he enlisted in the United States Army. He served in Vietnam in 1968 and 1969 with the 295th Ordinance Company. Returning home, he farmed and raised registered Angus cattle with his Dad. He had the boys help with irrigation and other jobs around the farm, so he put them to work. Not always did they do things correctly, so they were gently reminded what he had told them! Many stories still float around now and then. He loved to play jokes on the kids and their friends and then deny he had anything to do with it, but, most of the time, they knew better.
He married Terri Thompson in 1979 and to this union were born: Kenneth, Jessie, and Daniel. He and Connie were married on July 22, 2006.
Elton loved to sing and did so at many weddings, funerals, and other occasions. One of his biggest pleasures was being invited to sing at the Blue Bird Café in Nashville, where many well known musicians got their start. He said that Jimmy Fortune from the Statler Brothers was there that night and listened to him. He had an opportunity to make a career of singing, but stated that he didn’t do it to make money. He just enjoyed it. After 30 years of farming, Elton started the Flodfest Music Fest. It was a three day festival that brought musicians from Iowa, Wyoming, Canada, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Kansas, and other states. The first festival was on the front porch of his home. As word got out around the music circle, more people began to attend, and it got big enough that he had to move to another venue. Flodfest was held at Riverside, and then moved to Covenant Cedars Bible Camp. He did this for 12 years, and made life long friends. He will surely be missed in that circle of friends.
Elton is survived by his wife Connie of Hordville; daughter Michelle (Jess) Kaiser of Omaha; and Jessie Ross of Central City; sons John (Christina) Flodman of Hordville; Kenneth Flodman of Axtell; and Daniel Flodman of Grand Island; stepson Brian (Bobbi) Francis of Fullerton; and step-daughter Jennifer (Greg) Lani of Fullerton; sister Mary Lou (Lucas) Djernes; sister Ida Mae Rutherford; sisters-in-law Shirley (Dennis) Brandt of St. Paul; and Loretta (Mick) McDowell of St. Paul; 25 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, son Troy Flodman; great-grandson Jonah Sanchez; sister Janet Flodman; and stepson Randy Francis.
