Florence C. Mathews, 90, Sturgis, died Thursday, May 26, 2011, at Sturgis Regional Senior Care.

Visitation will be Sunday from noon to 9:00 p.m. with a vigil beginning at 7:00 p.m. at Kinkade Funeral Chapel.

Mass of Christian burial will be held Monday, May 30, 2011, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church with Father Arnold Kari officiating. Burial will follow at St. Aloysius Cemetery.

Florence was born September 27, 1920, in Sturgis to Mederic and Pearl (Woodson) Ricard. She attended rural Benoit School through the 8th grade. She attended and graduated from Cathedral High School in Rapid City in 1938. Florence graduated from St. John's McNamara School of Nursing in Rapid City in 1941. After obtaining her RN degree, Florence moved to California and was employed by Douglas Aircraft as an industrial nurse for five years.

Florence married Robert E. Mathews on August 20, 1949, in Reno, NV, to which a son, Michael, was born. In 1950, she was employed by the county of Los Angeles at the John Wesley Hospital, where research was done for cancer and liver diseases. She remained in that position for 15 years.

She returned to South Dakota in 1963 where Florence worked at St. John's McNamara Hospital for two years. She began her tour at Fort Meade VA Medical Center in 1965. Florence retired after 25 years in 1988.

Florence was a member of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, AARP, and NARFE. She enjoyed travel, playing cards, and had a love for nature and animals, birds, gardening, lawn work, and flowers. She especially enjoyed reading, embroidering, and crocheting.

Florence is survived by six nephews and five nieces.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her son, Michael; her husband, Robert; three brothers, Elmer, Gerald, and Maurice Ricard; and one sister, Marjorie Beal.

A memorial has been established to St. Aloysius Cemetery.

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