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Written and submitted by Florence Used by Ann Miller White (FAG#46933224) with permission from Jane Graff from "Seward County Nebraska 1982 by The People of Seward County".
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Florence Henrietta (Ricenbaw) was born on April 21, 1912, rural Milford, Nebraska to Norman and Alvina (Suelwold) Ricenbaw. She attended country schools through eighth grade and graduated from Beaver Crossing High School in 1929. She and her two brothers and two sisters commuted to School District 20 in a horse drawn spring wagon or buggy.

Florence learned her skills from her mother. She remembers helping with everything around the house except baking bread. "Mother" always liked to do that herself.

Fond memories, too, are the evenings spent singing popular songs and hymns with her sister, Viola, at the piano. Other times, "Dad" would play the fiddle with "Mom" chording on the piano.

After graduating from high school with a "degree" in Normal Training, Florence became a teacher in a rural school. After eight years of teaching she married Grover Cleveland Amos on June 16, 1937.

Grover was born near Ulysses, Nebraska on July 28, 1894 to John and Margaret (Feary) Amos. He attended school eight years and then went to work to help with the family finances. As a youngster, 13 years of age, he worked on the railroad alongside adults. Other employment he had as a young man was with a grocery store, cream station, bakery, and building construction.

Grover was drafted into the United States Army on April 14, 1918. After brief training, he was sent overseas to serve in England and France. He was discharged June 16, 1919 and began the process of looking for employment. A vacancy for a rural mail carrier in Beaver Crossing led him to apply for that position. He was appointed as a mail carrier by President Harding in 1920. He carried mail for 33 1/2 years.

A frightening experience struck the little town of Beaver Crossing on June 9, 1950. The Blue River went on rampage after a cloud burst upstream, causing a flash food in the valley. The family was awakened by sirens and a loud knocking on the door. They were told to waste no time in getting to higher ground. Gathering the three small children and a few belongings, they headed for the country. Grover returned home to witness what he found hard to believe . The swift, dirty water converged on the south part of town, completely covering everything it is path, including the Amos home.

Schools were experiencing a shortage of teachers in the 1950s. Florence was persuaded to teach in a rural school in 1956. She continued teaching for 24 more years in rural schools in Beaver Crossing and the consolidated Centennial School. Along with teaching, she attended summer school and night school to earn a degree in education from Concordia College in Seward. She retired from teaching in 1980 after teaching for a total of 32 years.

Florence and Grover's family consisted of Judith Lee born February 26, 1942 and married to Jimmy peer. Their children are Jeffery and Jeremy. James Arthur, born July 18, 1945 married Sandra LeZotte; children David and Mark. Linda June, born June 28, 1947, married Steven Eberspacher, children, daughter Christal and sons, Michael and Matthew.

After a lengthy illness, Grover died on April 8, 1974. He was buried in the Beaver Crossing Cemetery.

Written and Submitted for the book by Florence Ricenbaw Amos