Florine Spencer

Florine Burns Arbogast Spencer, 89, of South Sioux City, NE passed away suddenly on Tuesday, September 27, 2011 at a Sioux City hospital. Residing at Regency Square Nursing Home, Florine had a two-year battle with Dementia-Alzheimer's. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, October 1, 2011 at River Hills Church in South Sioux City, NE, with Pastor Kevin Roach officiating. Burial will be in Dakota City Cemetery in Dakota City, NE. Visitation will begin at 5:00 P.M. on Friday, September 30, 2011, with the family present at 6:00 P.M. and a prayer service at 7:00 P.M. at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of Mohr Funeral Home in South Sioux City, NE. Condolences may be posted online at www.mohrfuneralhome.com. Florine was born on May 27, 1922 in Fayetteville, West Virginia, the daughter of Carl A. and Myrtle (Matheny) Burns. Reared in the Great Smokey Mountains she was a coal miner's daughter. Soon after graduating from high school she married Cleo Arbogast and bore three children, one passing as an infant. Working as a secretary in Palm Bay, Florida, she met Gail Spencer, Sioux City, Iowa, in late September of 1958 and married on October 11 of that year. The couple traveled with Gail's work as a tower man. They had one child and settled in South Sioux City, NE. Gail passed away in 1993. Florine was an almost 46-year member of the Assembly of God Church, now River Hills Church, in South Sioux City, Nebraska. A faithful congregant, she served the church in various capacities as an expression of her deep religious faith. Florine was also known for her extraordinary cooking, her creative sewing and avid gardening skills. Survivors include three children, Carl E. (Linda) Arbogast of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Betty Lou Carter of Columbus, Ohio and South Sioux City, Nebraska and Theresa L Spencer of Albuquerque, New Mexico and (recently) Sioux Falls, South Dakota; five grandchildren, Carmen (Paul) Nguyen, Carl (Melissa) Losey IV, Tony Losey, Phillip Arbogast, Dr. Jason (Jan) Arbogast; 16 great-grandchildren; three great-great grandchildren; one sister; and several nieces and nephews. Florine was preceded in death by her parents, four sisters, an infant child and her husband Gail, and on Thursday of this week, her sister Jean Kayse, the last of the Burns sisters, passed away in a Florida nursing home.