Florence Hicks

Florence Niebel Hicks, 97, formerly of Scranton and Jefferson, Iowa, died Tuesday, September 6, 2016 in Lee’s Summit, Missouri.

Florence Lilly Niebel was born January 7, 1919 on a farm near Udell, Iowa to Ralph Sumner and Lilly Ella (Burkhardt) Niebel. She grew up in rural Udell and in Lawton, Iowa.

Florence attended country school near Udell and the Udell public school. After graduating from the eighth grade she started high school in Centerville, Iowa. She moved to Lawton where she graduated from high school. Florence attended Buena Vista College in Storm Lake, Iowa and Cedar Falls State Teachers College, graduating with a teaching degree. She began her teaching career in 1938 at a Highland No. 1 country school near Churdan, Iowa, and two years later became the teacher at Highland No. 6 country school.

Florence married Harley Irvin Hicks in Churdan on January 26, 1943, when he was home on furlough from the U.S. Navy during World War II. Florence continued to teach in rural Greene County until 1944 when she began teaching in rural Battle Creek, Iowa. Harley was discharged from the Navy in 1945, and the couple began farming near Churdan. In 1954 they and their four young children moved to Scranton where they farmed. Florence gardened, kept house and drove tractor during planting and harvesting. In 1966 Florence began teaching in the Scranton elementary school. She completed her degree in education at Drake University while teaching.

Harley died in May 24, 1982 and Florence continued to live on their farm until she married Robert M. Smith on November 15, 1986, and the couple moved to Jefferson. Bob died on January 9, 1996. Florence continued to live in Jefferson until 2002 when she moved to John Knox Village in Lee’s Summit, Missouri where she could live near her daughter, Jane.

Florence died in the Lee’s Summit, Missouri hospital on September 6, 2016.

Florence was a member of the Methodist church, a 4-H leader, taught English-as-a-second-language, carried out family history research and volunteered at the Greene County Genealogical Society.  She loved to quilt and belonged to the John Knox Village quilting group, quilting with them every Saturday morning. She was a talented seamstress and sewed clothing for her children and grandchildren. She had great curiosity and read on a broad range of subjects. She read to her grandchildren whenever she was with them and often gave them books as gifts. She spent as much time as she could with her family and traveled extensively to visit them.

She was preceded in death by her husband Harley; her sister and brother-in-law, Alice and Edwin Hardy; her grandson, Hans August Burmeister Hicks. She is survived by three daughters: Jo Anne (Michael) Ruby of Muscatine, Iowa, Jane (David) Weiler of St. Louis, Missouri and Rennie (John) Hicks Coffey of the Pacific Northwest; one son, Ron (Audrey) of New Hope, Minn.; five grandchildren: Christian Burmeister Hicks, Marcus (Kristen) Ruby, Jazz (Michael) Fish, Ellen (Allen) Rager and Johna (Benjamin) Treckman; and three great-grandchildren: Kodi and Skylah Fish and Landon Ruby. Additional survivors include two sisters-in-law, Jean Cafferty of Boone, Iowa and Eula Mae Hicks of Churdan; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

A graveside service is being held on September 22, 2016 at the Scranton Township Cemetery. Florence will be buried next to her husband, Harley.