Florence Ida NELSON Married Clifford Ira MATHEWS on 16 FEB 1926 in Wray, Yuma County, Colorado, USA.


Printed in the Benkelman, NE Post, May 1995

Florence Ida (Nelson) Mathews

WAUNETA--Florence Ida Mathews was born to Peter and Christina (Dohlberg) Nelson on the family farm in Dundy County, Nebraska, on December 22, 1904. She died at the Heritage of Wauneta Nursing Home in Wauneta, Nebraska, on May 4, 1995, at the age of 90.

She attended the Ash Grove School and the Sleepy Hollow Church during her childhood. She moved to Benkelman, Nebraska, with her parents as a teenager and worked as a clerk at the Haskins General Store.

On February 16, 1926, she was united in marriage to Clifford I. Mathews at Wray, Colorado. To this union was born one daughter, Phyllis Dorene.

Cliff and Florence lived on their farm in the Hiawatha neighborhood in Dundy County until 1967. During the early years of their marriage they suffered through the Great Depression as did their neighbors. Their home was the scene of many gatherings of family and friends for good food and fellowship.

In 1967, they moved to Imperial, Nebraska. Cliff died on July 5, 1977, and Florence continued to live in their home.

The years in Imperial were pleasant for Florence. She was active in the United Methodist Church as a member of Ruth Circle. She enjoyed playing cards with two groups. She worked part-time at Einspahr's Drug until she was 80 years old. When the Senior Center opened, she began to volunteer and continued to do that until last October.

On March 14, she entered the hospital in Imperial. She was diagnosed as having cancer and was advised by her doctor to seek the services of a nursing home. She moved to Heritage of Wauneta on March 19 to be near Phyllis and family.

Preceding her in death were her parents; husband; brothers Oscar and Elmer, and sisters Emma Henderson, Selma Dixon, Helen Alsbury and Esther as an infant.

Survivors are her daughter, Phyllis, and her husband, Gilbert Nordhausen, of Wauneta; grandchildren Vicki Lowe of Lincoln, Nebraska, Pam and Ron Gloy of Ogallala, Nebraska, and Monte and Deb Nordhausen of Wauneta; great-grandchildren Cory and Heidi Nordhausen and Gretchen and Rachel Gloy, and a sister, Olga Alsbury, of Imperial.

Funeral services were held Monday, May 8, 1995, at 10:30 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Imperial with the Rev. David Rowe officiating. Music was provided by Mrs. Kristi Swanson, organist, and Ron Gloy, soloist.

Pallbearers were Bernard Nelson, Don Nelson, Byron Loescher, Bill Loescher, Brad Dixon and Merril Humphreys.

Interment was in the Mount Hope Cemetery at Imperial with Liewer Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

The Simple Things
I like the simple things of life--
I do not ask for more--
A little house, some useful task,
And flowers around my door.
I do not wish for luxuries,
But this I hold most dear:
A friend who comes to chat awhile
And loved ones ever near.
The softness of the summer sun,
Bright blossoms on a tree,
The sound of children's laughter--
These things bring joy to me.
In youth we oft times yearn for things,
Their cost beyond our reach:
But. oh, how wisely do the years
The deeper values teach.
For happiness cannot be found
Along life's tinseled way,
But in the many little joys
That surround our lives each day.
I like the simple things of life:
Its here I'm sure to find
That God is walking ever near,
And I have peace of mind!