Catherine Smith

CATHERINE LENORIA SMITH was born to Joseph and Cora (Bell) Stepanek on January 14, 1923 on the family farm near Woodstock, Minnesota where she was raised and attended school. She continued her education at Pipestone High School in Pipestone, Minnesota. After her graduation in 1940, she attended college in Mankato, Minnesota and graduated from there in 1942. She then returned to Woodstock and taught school for nine years in the same country school she had attended. On February 3, 1951, she was united in marriage to Harvey Smith at St. Martin Catholic Church in Woodstock. Following their marriage, they lived in Woodstock. A few years later, they rented a farm near Woodstock where Catherine raised her children and helped with the farm work. On July 18, 2002, Harvey preceded her in death. In September, 2007, she moved to Brandon, South Dakota; and in 2011, she became a resident at the Helping Hands Assisted Living in Brandon. In October, 2012, she became a resident at Golden Living Center Covington Heights in Sioux Falls, South Dakota where she died on Friday, May 31, 2013 at the age of 90 years, four months and 17 days.

Catherine was a lifelong member of St. Martin Catholic Church in Woodstock where she remained active throughout the years. She enjoyed cooking and keeping her family well fed. She loved her family, and her biggest joy was spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She is lovingly remembered by her three children, Harvey Smith of Phoenix, Arizona, Jerry (Linda) Smith of Woodstock, Minnesota, Kevin Smith of Brandon, South Dakota; four grandchildren, Lance (special friend Sonia) Smith and son Marcus, Mark (Danielle) Smith and son Jaxon, Alyssa (Dennis) Guse and son Sebastien “Seb”, and Michael (Becky) Smith and children Aiden and Brody. She is preceded in death by her husband; her parents; three brothers, Frank Stepanek, Joe “Bud” Stepanek, and an infant brother, Stanley Stepanek; and a stepgranddaughter, Joni Lingen.