Obituary of Florence Elaine Hughes

Stickney – Florence Hughes, 88, went to her heavenly home Thursday, March 30 at the Platte Care Center – Avera.  Funeral mass will be Monday, April 10 at 10:30 am at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Stickney.  Visitation will be Sunday, April 9 from 5 to 7 pm with a 7:00 pm prayer service at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Stickney.  Arrangements by Koehn Bros. Funeral Home in Stickney.

Florence was born July 26, 1934 to August and Agnes (Koch) Wantoch in Billings, MT.  She attended Billings Central Catholic School and graduated in 1952.  She attended Black Hills Teacher College in Spearfish, SD, and taught Ruro Township for 2 years.  She was united in marriage to Robert Schumacher on May 26, 1954 at the Church of the Little Flower in Billings.  During the summer of 1954, Robert was drafted and they moved to Alaska where he was stationed.  After Robert’s in discharge 1956, they moved back to South Dakota where raising their 7 children was her job.  After their children were grown, Florence substitute taught for many years.  She married Robert Hughes on June 21, 2002.  Florence was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church where she taught Catechism and was active in the Altar Society.  She was also a member and past treasurer of the South Dakota NFO.  Grandma Flo loved having children around and planning birthday parties for her children and “birthday bingo” parties for her grandchildren.  She also enjoyed having company over and going shopping. 

Grateful for having shared her life are 5 children:  Cindi Umberger of Randolph, NE; Greg (Sherry) Schumacher of Stickney; Marie (Tom) Guenthner of Stickney; Rita (David) Beckman of Stickney; and Joe Schumacher of Stickney; 13 grandchildren; 32 great-grandchildren; 4 great-great-grandchildren; a sister, Jeanne Burgoyne of Billings; and a sister-in-law, Grace Schumacher of Lebanon, OR.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husbands, Robert Schumacher and Robert Hughes; a daughter, Laurie Schumacher; a son, Dan Schumacher; a grandson, Bob Umberger; a great-granddaughter, Bobby Joe Umberger; and a son-in-law, Gary Umberger.