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01/17/2009 - Florence Aneta (Sandoz) Fisher-Death Notice
Funeral Services will be held at a later date for Florence Aneta (Sandoz) Fisher, age 86, of Chadron passed away on Saturday, January 10, 2009 at Crestview Care Center. Mrs. Fisher was born on March 3, 1922 in Hay Springs, Nebraska.
A memorial has been established for the Parkinson’s Foundation. Donations may be sent to Chamberlain Chapel, P.O. Box 970, Chadron, Nebraska 69337 or National Parkinson Foundation, Inc, Office of Development, 1501 NW 9th Avenue/Bob Hope Road, Miami Florida 33136-1494. Florence Aneta Sandoz, affectionately known as “Toddie”, was born March 3, 1922 at Hay Springs, Nebraska to Swiss immigrants, Felix and Esther Sandoz. The youngest of five children, Florence grew up riding horses, moving cattle and playing with her father’s hounds. She enjoyed investigating the nests of curlews and meadowlarks, and helping her father hunt coyotes to pay the taxes on their Sandhills cattle ranch southwest of Rushville, near Smith Lake.
She attended grade school at Cotton Ridge School Dist. #73, and graduated from Rushville High School in 1940.
When neighbor and friend, Minnie Cravath, passed away in 1938, she willed $1,000 to young Florence, who was like a daughter to her. Florence took the opportunity to get her own start in the cattle and horse business, and purchased 10 head of purebred Hereford heifer calves, a stallion, and some mares. In 1939, she registered her own livestock brand, the Lazy S S.
Florence started riding horses at the age of two, and horses became her life-long passion. She spent a great deal of time in the saddle and was an accomplished horse woman. Florence won the title of Hay Springs Festival Rodeo Queen in 1953.
On October 2, 1940 Florence married a handsome local cowboy, Buford Dwaine Fisher, the son of William and Mabel (Melcher) Fisher of Rushville.
The newlyweds lived in Crawford while Buford was breaking horses at Fort Robinson remount depot. In April 1941, they moved to her parent’s ranch. Their daughter, Karen, and son, Gary, were born before Buford was drafted into the Navy, where he served in the South Pacific testing munitions off ships during WWII. The couple had to sell their cattle and most of their horses, and Florence moved to Rushville to be closer to family while Buford was away. When he came home, they returned to the ranch, their son Wayne was born, and they built back their herds. They lived on the ranch for the next fifty years.
During their early years together, Buford and Florence raised and showed registered Palomino horses. They, their three children, and later their grandchildren, raised, bred and showed registered Quarter Horses. They also raised Hereford cattle, changing to Hereford – Black Angus cross, and later to Angus – Gelbvieh cross cattle.
Florence was a hard worker and capable of doing anything on the ranch including calving, branding, doctoring, moving and working cattle, pulling wells, fixing fence, raking hay, milking the cow, growing a garden and raising chickens. She enjoyed taking care of the animals, especially their horses and dogs. Like many in the Sandoz family, Florence had a green thumb, and each year grew a yard full of beautiful flowers. She was a good cook, often serving large meals to ranch crews and family.
Florence was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1984.
After she and Buford retired to a place east of Chadron in 1990, their son Wayne and his family took over management of the family ranch. Buford passed away December 27, 1997.
Immediate Survivors:
Sons- Gary and wife Nancy Fisher of Crawford, NE; Wayne and wife Diane Fisher of Chadron, NE.
Daughter- Karen and husband Vance Nelson of Pembina, ND
Sister- Evelyn Trenkle of Hay Springs, NE
Granchildren- 10 Great Grandchldren- 16 Chamberlain Chapel of Chadron is in charge of arrangements.
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