Florine Marie “Teeney” Rife, 91, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Wednesday, April 24, 2024, at CHI Lakeside Hospital in Omaha, Neb. She was born on Dec. 26, 1932, in Hastings, to Burl and Mary (Hurst) Harold. She was raised on a farm in rural Mills County. Florine graduated from the Hastings High School in 1950. She worked for Mutual of Omaha in her early years. Florine married Everett R. "Killer" Rife on Sept. 16, 1953, in Hastings. The couple farmed in the Modale/Mondamin area all of their lives. Florine was a loving, faithful, devoted wife, mother, grandmother and grandma great.
Florine had been a member of the Baptist Church in Mondamin. She had been active in several clubs, taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School. She was a hard-working farm wife, had a generous heart, loved the Lord and taught her family the importance of faith. Florine was a great cook and many of her recipes have been handed down to future generations. She enjoyed country music, word search puzzles, canning, gardening, religion and flowers and most of all spending time with her family.
Florine was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Everett in 1999; brothers, Ruel, Virgil and Stanley Harold; and twin sisters, Leta Burnison and Neta Lewis. She is survived by her children, Sheryl Rife of Modale, Gail Rife of Mondamin, Roger Rife of Mondamin, Ronny Rife of Modale, Cindy and her husband Mike Collins of Logan and Nancy Sipple and her fiancé Terry Oestmann of Mondamin; six grandchildren, Brian (Lacie) Rife, Krystle (Scott) Rope, Rebecca (Jacob) Poteet, Jennifer (Jerad) Nobiling, Kylee (Drew) Sigler and Chance (Amanda) Sipple; 14 great-grandchildren, Parker, Ellie, Carter, Jackson, Luke, Eli, Jack, Brystol, Laikynn, Eli, Merritt Marie, Kartyr, Grayson and baby to be; two brothers, Wendell Harold of Omaha, Neb. and Leland (Pat) Harold of Clackamas, Ore.; sister-in-law, Phyllis Harold of Red Oak; and numerous nieces, nephews and a host of friends.
A funeral service was held on Monday, April 29, 2024, at Church of Christ in Mondamin. The service was presided over by Pastor Wayne Bahr. The musicians were Sharon Shelton and Kerry Carlson. The musical selections were “In the Garden”, “Take My Hand Precious Lord”, “You Raise Me Up” by Josh Groban and “You’ll Be There” by George Strait. The honorary pallbearers were her great grandchildren, Parker, Ellie, Carter, Jackson, Luke, Eli, Jack, Brystol, Laikynn, Eli, Merritt Marie, Kartyr and Grayson. The pallbearers were Brian and Lacie Rife, Krystle and Scott Rope, Rebecca and Jacob Poteet, Jennifer and Jerad Nobiling, Kylee and Drew Sigler and Chance and Amanda Sipple. Florine’s final resting place is at Noyes Cemetery.
Fouts Funeral Home in Woodbine was in charge of arrangements. www.foutsfuneralhome.com
