Florence Elfreda Carlson

Florence was born on December 13, 1899 in Anaconda, Montana. She graduated from the University of California at Berkeley. It was very rare for women to attend college at this time, let alone graduate.

She took a job in ?1922? at the McCuistion ranch outside Montello NV as a teacher of the McCuistion children. There she met Del McCuistion. They married in June 1923 and moved to Montello. The house they owned had no insulation, and during the Nevada winters it was very cold.

In 1937 they moved to Elko NV for improved education and employment possibilities. Florence taught in the elementary school. Everyone wanted their children in her second grade class; Florence could teach anyone to read. During World War 2 she would teach during the week at Montello and return home on the weekends.

She also taught piano lessons. She exercised her music ability for many years by playing the organ on Sunday for the Presbyterian church, for which she made a little spending money.

She was a member of Easter Star. She was also involved with the American Association of University Women, and for a year was their president.

In 1964 they moved to a retirement community in Rossmoor, California. From there, they started traveling the world. They visited their relative Captain Acton Kirk in Korea and Thailand around 1967. In the early 70’s, they traded homes with a couple in Hawaii. In 1977 they paid a visit to their son in Samoa.

Florence kept her mind sharp. Even in her 80’s she would astound her grandchildren by memorizing all 50 of the State Capitals and the State Senators. She said she didn’t want to memorize the Congressmen, because they changed too often.

Florence was cremated in 1988 and her ashes buried in the Montello cemetery.