Montezuma - My dear wife, our mom, and grandma, Lena (Schmidt) Smith was born to Daniel J.H. and Ida (Koehn) Schmidt on April 11, 1920, at her parents' home, Monteuzma, Kansas. She peacefully departed this life at Bethel Home, Montezuma on October 27, 1012 at the age of ninety-two.

Mom was the youngest in a family of ten children. Although growing up with not a lot of financial means, there was always good and nourishing food on the table. She received her education attending the Montezuma Public School.

The Lord called her to be His child and she was converted. On January 13, 1935, she was baptized by Min. John A. Koehn, becoming a member of the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite. She and our father, Herman J. Smith were joined in marriage at Montezuma by Min. Albert Unruh on October 29, 1944. The shared life's joys and sorrows together for two days less than sixty-eight years. The Lord blessed them with three sons and two daughters.

When Dad was released from CPS service, our parents settled on a farm in the Ingalls community where they raised their family. They lived on the farm until her health began to fail in June 2007 and she moved to Bethel Home in Montezuma.

Mom spent much time singing throughout her life, spending a number of years as a song leader for Bible School at the Cimarron Congregation. She was a homemaker, keeping busy with gardening and quilting. She also loved working with genealogy and compiling family history. After the children left home, Mom and Dad spent much time traveling. Their care and concern for their family was manifested by them being available when the call for help came. It was special to Mom when her children and grandchildren would commit their lives to the Lord. Although we will miss our mother, we hope to meet her in Heaven some day.

Those left to cherish special memories are her beloved companion, Herman; three sons, Ray Smith, Stan Smith and wife Althea, and Keith Smith and wife Beverly all of Ingalls; two daughters, Shirley Stoll and husband David of San Antonio, Texas and Helen Koehn and husband Emery of Sublette; 16 grandchildren; 22 great grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her parents; daughter-in-law, Gail Smith; four brothers, Abner, Clarence, Pete, and Jake Schmidt; and five sisters, Caroline Schmidt, Mary Isaac, Ruth Schmidt, Eva Buller and Leah Johnson.

Funeral service will be held at Living Hope Mennonite Church, Ingalls on Tuesday, October 30, 2012 at 10:30 AM with Ministers James Koehn, Sam Unruh, and Sherrill Esau presiding. Burial will follow at Living Hope Mennonite Church Cemetery in Ingalls. Visitation will be at Swaim Funeral Chapel of Montezuma on Monday, October 29, 2012 from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM and at Bethel Home in Monteuzma from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM. Memorials are suggested to Bethel Home in care of the funeral home. Thoughts and memories may be shared in the online guest book at www.swaimfuneralhome.com.