Flora Bee Gambs

GAMBS ALDRICH

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 10/10/2010 at 23:10:18

Sioux City Journal
10 July 2002

SMITHLAND, Iowa -- Flora Bee Gambs, 91, of Orofino, Idaho, formerly of Smithland, died Wednesday, June 5, 2002, at Clearwater Health and Rehabilitation in Idaho.

Memorial services will be 10:30 a.m. Friday at Willman Funeral Home in Rodney, Iowa, with the Rev. Karen Handke officiating. Burial will be in Smithland Cemetery. There will be no visitation. Cremation was under the direction of Pine Hills Funeral Home in Orofino.

Mrs. Gambs was born June 8, 1910, in Smithland, the daughter of Burton and Anna Aldrich. She grew up in Smithland and graduated from Smithland High School. When asked about her name, she took great pleasure explaining that she was the daughter of a beekeeper. While in Iowa, she worked as a beautician, played piano scores for silent movies and was a pianist for Arnold Richardson's dance band, who was her brother-in-law.

On Nov. 11, 1935, she married Hal B. Gambs. They lived on the Squaw Creek District of the Gallatin National Forest in Montana until May 1945, when they settled in Orofino.

She had many fond memories of special times, holidays and vacations spent with her relatives and friends. She looked forward to visiting her neighbors and retirement center friends and was very appreciative of their help and caring support.

She was a longtime member of Orofino United Methodist Church and United Methodist Women. She was a past Matron, Grand Representative and a 50-year member of Oro Chapter 57 of the Order of the Eastern Star. She enjoyed playing the organ and piano for Eastern Star and church events. She also enjoyed playing bridge, crafts, gardening and being outside. She especially liked growing flowers, collecting wild flowers and feeding the hummingbirds and quail. She liked traveling, outings along the rivers, fishing and collecting interesting rocks. She had a special fondness for animals and enjoyed her own pets as well as those of the friends and neighbors.

Survivors include her son and his wife, Roger and Rae Belle Gambs of Atascadero, Calif.; a granddaughter and her husband, Rachel and Mark Richardson of Nottingham, Md.; a grandson, Rodger Gambs of San Luis Obispo, Calif.; a sister, Harriett Welte of Memphis, Tenn.; and nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Hal; a sister, Merle Richardson; and a brother, Byron Aldrich.