Florence VanRiper, 93, of Hutchinson, died Dec. 24, 2010, at Thorne Care Center in Florence Nell VanRiper, 93, died Dec. 24, 2010, at Thorne Care Center at Wesley Towers, Hutchinson. She was born Nov. 18, 1917, in Inwood, Iowa, to Harry Ross and Minnie May Azbill Gardiner. She graduated from Bresee College Academy in 1935. As a homemaker, she pursued an interest in art and jointly operated VanRiper Ceramics from 1957 to 1982. Florence continued to produce ceramic art, watercolors, oils, wood art, weavings and tapestries. She exhibited art in numerous shows, taught and judged art. She was a member of First Church of The Nazarene.
On March 30, 1937, she married George Vernon Alexander in Hutchinson. He preceded her in death. On Aug. 3, 1944, she married Earl C. VanRiper in Ponca City, Okla. He died Jan. 29, 1989. Survivors include: sons, Jerry Wayne Alexander and wife, Marlene, Texarkana, Texas, Frank Nelson Alexander and his wife, Ardith, Hutchinson, and Rev. Joel Dennis Alexander and wife Margarete, Idaho Falls, Idaho; and a nephew she helped raise, Bill Schardein and wife, Susan, Manhattan; sisters, Esther McNutt, Kansas City, Mo, Lois Dellinger, Boise, Idaho, and Donna Beukelman, Nampa, Idaho; 10 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by four sisters and a brother.

Memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 6, 2011, at First Church of The Nazarene, 43rd and Monroe, Hutchinson, with Rev. Doug Wyatt and Bones Nay officiating. Friends may sign the book prior to the service at Elliott Mortuary, Hutchinson. A private family inurnment will be in Penwell-Gabel Cemetery and Mausoleum, Hutchinson. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Hutchinson Art Association or to the Wesley Towers Good Samaritan Fund, in care of the mortuary. To leave a personal condolence visit www.elliottmortuary.com for the family.