Florence Rieck

Junction Florence Ida Uerling Rieck was born on Sunday, December 23, 1923 to a pioneer farming family in Nebraska and was raised near a town named Indianola. She later graduated from Barnes Business College in Denver, Colorado.

In 1945, after marrying James Paterson Rieck, a veteran of WWII who served as an Air Force pilot and Captain in the 8th Air Force in England and Europe, Florence lived near Roosevelt, Texas on land homesteaded by her husbands grandfather, James Paterson, in 1885.

A homemaker until September 28, 1967, Florence became the sole operator of J.P. Rieck Ranch after losing her husband to a fatal heart attack. Faced with the daunting task of raising two teenagers and a toddler as a single mother, she embraced the challenge of learning the ranching business: She became active in many agricultural organizations and eventually expanded the J.P. Rieck Ranch to what it is today.

Florence held the following positions during her lifetime:
First woman or of the Texas Sheep Goat Raisers Association
Commissioner on the Texas Animal Health Commission.
Director of the Texas Section of the Society for Range Management
Director of Mohair Council
Member of the Soil Conservation Service.
American Sheep Producers Council Representative
Member of the Texas and Southwestern Cattlemans Association
Member of the National Cattlemans Association
Kimble County Hospital Board member
Director Emeritus, Kimble County Museum Expansion Committee
Charter member of the Daedalian Study Club
Author of quotAre You Prepared to Operate the Ranchquot, a talk prepared for the 1983 International Ranchers Roundup that was selected as recommended reading by the Texas Extension Service.

A devout member of St. Theresa Catholic Church in Junction, Texas, she will be missed by all and remembered fondly by her three sons, Bruce and his wife Cindy, Bob and his wife Linda, Brian her seven grandchildren, and 2 greatgrandchildren, along with a host of many loving family members, friends and neighbors.

Recitation of the Holy Rosary will be held at St. Theresa Catholic Church on Thursday, February 3, 2011 at 5 PM.
A visitation will be held from 6 7 PM at Kimble Funeral Home following the rosary.
A Mass of Celebration will be held in the church at 1 PM, Friday, February 4, 2011, with interment to follow at Junction Cemetery.
The family invites you to leave a message or memory at www.kimblefuneralhometx.com by selecting Obituaries. Select quotSign Guestbookquot at the top right of the individual Memorial.
Arrangements are under the direction and personal care of the professionals at Kimble Funeral Home. 325 4463076

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