Ethel Mae Czenkusch (she was known as Mae) was born November 26, 1921, to Carl and Anna (Wuehler) Czenkusch on their farm five miles northwest of Amherst, Nebraska. She was born at home in the farmhouse that sat across the road from Greendale District #31. Mae later went to school through the 7th grade at District #31 but graduating 8th grade from Immanuel Lutheran School that was two miles north of their farmstead. She graduated from Amherst High School in 1939 and then went to Kearney Normal School for one school year, 1939-1940.
Mae began her teaching career in the fall of 1940 at the school she attended as a child. For seven years she taught in the following Buffalo County rural schools: 1) Two years at Greendale District #31 five miles northwest of Amherst from 1940 to 1942; 2) One year at Hardscrable District #76 four miles west of Amherst from 1942 to 1943; and 3) Four years at East Stanley District #13 four miles east of Amherst from 1943 to 1947.
On June 1, 1945, Mae married Franklin (Bill) Long, who farmed near Amherst.
In 1947 they moved to a farm in the Wood River Valley five miles northwest of Amherst and two miles from Watertown. They raised three sons: John, Robert, and Ronald.
My mother continued to have her hand in the educational process while raising three sons. She taught Vacation Bible School classes, she assisted in the “home schooling” of two handicapped children in the Amherst area for many years, and she served for many years on the School Board of Watertown District #101. On May 7, 2009, Mae died at the age of 87.
Buffalo County Schools
Greendale District #31 1940-1942
Hardscrabble District #76 1942-1943
East Stanley District #13 1943-1947
Mae began her teaching career in the fall of 1940 at the school she attended as a child. For seven years she taught in the following Buffalo County rural schools: 1) Two years at Greendale District #31 five miles northwest of Amherst from 1940 to 1942; 2) One year at Hardscrable District #76 four miles west of Amherst from 1942 to 1943; and 3) Four years at East Stanley District #13 four miles east of Amherst from 1943 to 1947.
On June 1, 1945, Mae married Franklin (Bill) Long, who farmed near Amherst.
In 1947 they moved to a farm in the Wood River Valley five miles northwest of Amherst and two miles from Watertown. They raised three sons: John, Robert, and Ronald.
My mother continued to have her hand in the educational process while raising three sons. She taught Vacation Bible School classes, she assisted in the “home schooling” of two handicapped children in the Amherst area for many years, and she served for many years on the School Board of Watertown District #101. On May 7, 2009, Mae died at the age of 87.
Buffalo County Schools
Greendale District #31 1940-1942
Hardscrabble District #76 1942-1943
East Stanley District #13 1943-1947