If you have been Waymarking or Geocaching in Moorhead, MN you might have seen the mural on Main Ave. featuring Florence Klingensmith. Florence grew up a little north of Moorhead in Oak Mound and grew up to become the first licensed female pilot in the county and the first licensed female in North Dakota.
As a young girl she was called a tomboy. As a teen she zipped through town on a motorcycle, standing up to the disapproval of other girls and many adults. As a young adult Florence earned her pilots license in June of 1929 and was a founding member of the The Ninety-Nines: International Organization of Women Pilots. The Ninety-Nines organization was founded November 2, 1929, at Curtiss Field, Valley Stream, Long Island, New York. All 117 women pilots at the time were invited to assemble for mutual support, the advancement of aviation and to create a central office to keep files on women in aviation. Louise Thaden was elected Secretary and worked to keep the group together as they struggled to establish themselves and to grow. Those early purposes continue to guide the organization today. (
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The plaque at Florence's grave reads:
"FLORENCE (GUNDERSON) KLINGENSMITH, AVIATRIX
September 3, 1904 – September 4, 1933
This monument was erected in June, 2015 in memory of
Florence Edith (Gunderson) Klingensmith – “Tree Tops”
A native of Oak Mound, Minnesota. She became the first licensed female
Aviator (“aviatrix”) in Clay County, Minn. and the state of North Dakota in
June, 1929, and also that year became a charter member of the Ninety-Nines.
After winning the Ameila Earhart Award in 1932 and setting several world
records in women’s aviation, she died when her plane crashed near Chicago
while competing in the Frank Phillips Trophy Race on September 4, 1933.
She was interred in the Oak Mound Cemetery on September 4, 1933
In Lot 22, Grave 3. This monument was planned and dedicated by the
Oak Mound 4-H Club for their 2015 Community Pride Project.
The following individuals and organizations sponsored the construction and
dedication of this monument through labor and/or monetary contributions:
Oak Mound Church, Oak Mound Cemetery Association, Oak Mound School,
Marvin Corneliussen and the Clay County 4-H Federation.
Dedicated on June 14, 2015"