Florence Rose Ritter Meitl Thompson, 93, of Hoxie, died Tuesday,
December 21, 2021, at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney, NE. She
was born December 10, 1928, to Philomena (Minnie) and Bernard (Ben)
Ritter at the family farm. She was the first born of identical twins and
the sixth child out of eleven children. She, her twin, Sister Delores,
and their siblings grew up on the family farm west of Dresden.
Florence attended Leoville Grade and High School, graduating in May
1946. After graduation, she worked for several families in the area. On
May 9, 1950, she married Elmer Meitl at the Immaculate Conception Church
in Leoville. They settled on a farm south and east of Dresden, along
the Sheridan-Decatur County line. To this union, eight children were
born, of which daughter Rose (December 5, 1952) only lived less than a
day. Elmer passed away October 6, 1976. As a farm wife, she helped with
the outside activities related to the farm.
After Elmer’s passing, Florence took over as the regular driver of
the Hoxie school bus route until she moved to Hoxie on March 29, 1982.
She then worked at the First Insurance Agency, Inc. On August 30, 1985,
Florence married Thomas (Tom) Thompson at St. Frances Church in Hoxie.
They traveled with their camper as well as on bus trips. Tom passed away
on May 29, 2000.
Florence enjoyed being involved in her church, both in Leoville and
Hoxie. She liked working with wood and created many things for her
home. She operated the Thrift Shop in Leoville and worked at the Swap
Shop in Hoxie for several years. She loved her flowers and plants. She
also machine quilted, finishing many quilts for friends and neighbors.
Florence was preceded in death by her parents; husbands Elmer Meitl
and Thomas Thompson; brothers Cletus, Raymond, Seraphim, Francis,
Sylvester, Victor and Dennis Ritter; sister Alfreda Colling; and
daughter Rose.
Florence is survived by her children: Regina (John) Johnson of
Colby, Jerry (Velma) Meitl of Basehor, KS, Ken (Karen) Meitl of
Washington, IL., Thomas Meitl of Midland, TX., Carol (Jimmy) Stewart of
Hoxie; Conrad (Jan) Meitl of Greeley, Co., and Andrew (Cynthia) Meitl
of Abilene, TX.; her fifteen grandchildren, twenty-three great
grandchildren and one great-great grandson. She is also survived by two
sisters, Sister Dolores Ritter and Bernadine Spresser.
She relied on her faith to get her through the many trials of her life.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Tuesday, December 28, 2021,
10:30 A.M. at the St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church in Hoxie, Kansas. A
lunch will follow the service in the St. Frances Cabrini Social Hall.
Following the lunch, interment will follow in the Calvary Cemetery in
Leoville, Kansas at approximately 1:15 PM. A visitation will be held
Monday, December 27, 2021, from 1:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. Family will
receive friends from 5:30 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. The Vigil service will
follow the visitation, starting at 7:00 P.M. Visitation and Vigil
Service will be at the Mickey-Leopold Funeral Home, Hoxie, Kansas.
Memorials are suggested to the Sheridan County Benefit Walk or Masses
and may be sent in care of Mickey-Leopold Funeral Home, PO Box 987,
Hoxie, Kansas 67740.