Betty Smith

Betty Katherine Lee Smith passed peacefully on November 17, 2024 in Fairbury, Nebraska with family by her side. Betty was born to Floyd and Catharine Agnes (Conroy) Lee at the “old Culp Place” in Alexandria on January 07, 1936. A doctor came on horse and buggy and charged $25 for his work. She had three older brothers at that time, Gerald, Harold and Wayne. Six years later, she was joined by a younger sister, Patty. A few years later, they bought a farm on the east edge of Alexandria, where Betty spent much of her life at various intervals. She attended grade school in Alexandria. She went on to Alexandria High School, where she was a member of the Theta Rho Society and was elected as the Homecoming Queen in 1952. She was one of 10 graduating members from Alexandria High in 1953. Upon graduation, she took a job in the ASC office in Hebron. Her tenure was short, as she married her sweetheart, Robert Smith on October 09, 1954, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Alexandria, and her career commenced as a mother and homemaker for the next several years. She gave birth to four daughters and three sons, one of whom died shortly after his birth. In 1965, they purchased her parents’ farm and moved to Alexandria, after having lived in Humboldt, NE, Greenleaf, KS and Geneva in the interim years. While raising her children, she was a skilled farm wife, raising and dressing chickens, selling eggs, tending enormous gardens, canning and preserving food for the winters. She was a gracious woman, known for making perfect bread rolls and delicious pies. She was a member of the St. Mary’s Altar Society for many years. She loved to doodle and color with her grandchildren. For a few years, she and her daughter Nancy operated a country crafting business. Shortly after her son Kevin died in 1976, she went to work in Fairbury at the Heritage Nursing home, where she was loved by all of her patients and colleagues. Eventually, she went to work at the Fairbury Clinic for a few years, and then the Blue Valley Clinic in Hebron until her retirement. In 2009, she and Bob moved into town…a whole ¼ mile closer to the Main Street in Alexandria. They worked hard on their gardens and yard, and frequently won the town award for the most beautiful yard. She enjoyed frequent trips to Santa Barbara to visit family, spoil her grandchildren and enjoy wine-tasting in the vineyards, first with Bob until his passing in 2014 and then by herself…she was the envy of her fellow residents at Cedarwood in the last years. In 2017, she sold her home in Alexandria and moved to an apartment in Fairbury, and then shortly after that, in 2020 she moved to Cedarwood Assisted Living, where she was surrounded by friends from Alexandria. Her cat Prissy made those moves with her and was at her side for many years. Betty is preceded in death by her beloved husband Robert, sons Bobby and Kevin, daughter Nancy Virus, granddaughter Kellie Corliss, parents Floyd & Catharine Lee, and three brothers. She leaves to mourn three daughters, Judy (Mark) Corliss of Santa Barbara, CA., Jayne (Gene) Pohlmeier of Hastings, and Annette (Terry) Barber of Lincoln, one son, Kerry (Stephanie) of Exeter, NE. She is dearly loved by 19 grandchildren and 23 great grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister Patty, and sister-in-law, Sarah Smith and many nieces & nephews. Thanks to the wonderful and caring staff at Cedarwood, Cottonwood Hospice & Gardenside Nursing Home. Memorial Services will be held on Monday, Nov. 25th at 10:00 am at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Fairbury, NE. Public visitation will be from 4:00-5:00 pm on Sunday at Gerdes-Meyer Funeral Chapel in Fairbury with Rosary to follow at 5:00 pm. Inurnment will be at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Alexandria, NE. Gerdes-Meyer Funeral Home is assisting with arrangements. www.gerdesmeyerfh.com

Christmas at Crystal Will Return

Diller and Odell STEM Club

Related Articles

Lonnie Dale Meyer

Albert Oliver

Joseph Cox

Eldean Banahan