Alice Fliginger: 1925-2023
Alice (Haar Urbina) Fliginger, 98 of Freeman, S.D., passed away Sept. 17 at Oakview Terrace in Freeman. A funeral was held Saturday, Sept. 23 at the St. Paul Lutheran Church of Freeman.
Alice was born on the family farm near Freeman on March 14, 1925, to Albert and Katherine (Nielsen) Haar. She attended St. Paul Lutheran elementary school and graduated from Freeman High School in 1942.
In addition to serving as president of her class, she enjoyed participating in multiple musical groups, and learned to play the piano and organ. She was also the editor of the first Freeman High School yearbook, published in 1942.
Alice spent her professional career as an elementary school teacher. Upon graduating high school, she enrolled in a one-year course at Freeman Junior College. This qualified her to begin teaching in parochial and rural schools. The money she earned went to pay for her continuing education at Augustana College in Sioux Falls, S.D.
She taught in Denver-area schools for four years before marrying Joseph Urbina in 1951, and becoming a mother to her two sons, Joseph and Jeffrey.
Education was a passion for Alice; not only did she enjoy imparting knowledge in the classroom, she was always in pursuit of her own education. While living in Nebraska with her young family, she took classes at Peru State College, then enrolled in the bachelor degree program at the University of Nebraska. Teaching full-time in various elementary schools, Alice attended her own university classes summers, weekends and evenings. She was awarded her bachelor’s degree in 1968.
The family moved to North Chicago, Ill., soon after, where Joe was stationed at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center. Alice taught fourth grade at a large public elementary school, and soon enrolled in a master’s program at Roosevelt University in Chicago. She earned that degree while working full-time, parenting her two adolescent sons, and again attending classes nights, weekends, and while working a variety of summer odd jobs. Joe and Alice divorced in 1972.
Alice put her musical talent to work as a piano teacher and organist in various communities.
Floyd Fliginger and Alice renewed a youthful acquaintance in the mid-70s, eventually marrying in 1978. Alice became stepmother to Floyd’s two children, Shana and Trent.
The Fliginger family lived in Pierre, S.D., where Alice continued her teaching career. Floyd and Alice retired in 1988 to Freeman, where they built a home. Alice became quite involved in the community, volunteering at the Salem Home, the Freeman Public Library, various women’s groups at the St Paul church, and the Freeman Regional Health Services Auxiliary, where she served as secretary for many years. Alice was one of the original founding members of the Auxiliary in 1952, along with her mother, Katherine Haar, who served as its first president, and her aunt, Henrietta Haar, who served as its first treasurer.
Alice enjoyed traveling with her husband Floyd, visiting multiple states by both car and plane. She had a keen interest in learning through travel, always delving into local history of the places she visited. Alice also possessed a firm knowledge of the Haar family genealogy, researching and sharing information as she uncovered it.
In 2009, upon Floyd’s death, Alice chose to move to the Salem Home in order to be more able to socialize as she aged. She enjoyed interacting with her neighbors and the staff there, and continued many of her activities in the broader Freeman community.
In early 2020, Alice moved the few blocks to Oakview Terrace, where she continued to be an active and beloved member of that community until her death.
Alice is preceded in death by her parents; her brother Winfred Haar; her sister Esther (Haar) Urbina; her first husband Joseph Urbina; and her husband Floyd Fliginger.
Survivors include her sons and their families: Older son Joseph “Jay” Urbina, his wife Jill, and their children Johnathan (July) Urbina; and Jenniffer (Nick) Coleman, parents of Alice’s three great-grandchildren, Nicholas, Noah and Noelle; and younger son Jeffrey Urbina, his wife Gaye Hill, and sons Ian Hill Urbina and Colin Hill (Michelle Bernstein) Urbina.
Also surviving Alice are her stepchildren, Shana Fliginger; and Trent Fliginger, his wife Chris, and their son Jacob.
There are also nieces and nephews Alice held dear: Ken Haar, and his son Jordan; Jim (Lisa) Urbina; Jon (Karen) Urbina; Kathy (Tim Stoenner) Urbina; and Jeanne (Mark) Taylor. Multiple grand-nieces, grand-nephews, cousins and friends were able to share in Alice’s life.
To honor Alice, donations to the Freeman Regional Health Services Auxiliary are requested in lieu of flowers.
