Florence and Robert Gifford met each other in 1949, and they got married less than a year later. They spent much of their life working and raising four children on their farm and ranch in Banner County. They say their love for each other has only grown over the years, and they celebrated an amazing and memorable moment on June 16, 2020 – their 70th wedding anniversary.
JEFF FIELDER Editor
GERING – Florence (Hanlon) Gifford was working in the bookkeeping department at Ford Garage in Scottsbluff one day in the summer of 1949 when Robert Gifford purchased a new vehicle there.
Florence didn’t work directly with Robert that day, but he certainly caught her attention.
“I thought he was nice-looking, and he seemed like a gentleman,” Florence said.
Her eyes were drawn to Robert again later that summer at a dance that was held in Mitchell. Florence’s sister, who knew Florence had a crush on Robert, made sure Robert knew Florence’s name.
“She was dancing with him, and she asked him, ‘Have you seen my sister here?’” Florence said. “He told her, ‘No, I don’t know your sister.’ My sister said, ‘Well, you should know her because she works at Ford Garage, and you go there all the time.’”
The next time Robert went to Ford Garage, he was greeted by Florence, who happened to be working at the front desk window. They smiled at each other and talked briefly before Robert, who was 21 at the time, went home.
He returned to Ford Garage a few days later to pay a bill – and to ask the then 19-year-old Florence if she would be interested in going to movie with him. She didn’t hesitate to say, ‘Yes.’
“I was hoping he would ask me out,” said Florence, who’s now 90. Robert is 92. “He seemed very kind, and I was excited to get to know him better.”
You can read the entire story in the July issue of Nspire Today! magazine. A one-year subscription (12 issues) is only $15. You may sign up for a subscription by sending $15 to Nspire Today!, P.O. Box 454, Scottsbluff, NE 69363, or you may pay with a credit card by calling 308-220-8865.
Nspire Today! magazine is also available at locations listed below.
