Lillian I. Smith

LILLIAN I. SMITH was born to Peter O. and Selma (Lossius) Remme on December 27, 1912 on the family farm in Vienna Township of Rock County, Minnesota. She was raised here alongside her father’s first family, Olaf, Albert Peter, Elfie, Adolf 'Duffy' and Edwin; her brothers, Peter and Lloyd, and her sisters, Helen, Eleanor, and Beverly. Their home echoed with laughter, was rich in happiness and full of love. Lil continued to radiate these virtues with those she shared her life with for over 100 years. She was an inspiration to all the children in her life, lovingly remembered for her infectious smile and reassuring wink of her eye. Lil was baptized in 1913 and confirmed in 1927 at the Blue Mound Lutheran Church northeast of Luverne, Minnesota. She graduated from Magnolia High School in 1931. Lil was active in high school sports, participating in Track and Field and Basketball, winning letter awards in 1930-31. Bowling was her sport of choice. She belonged to leagues in Luverne and won many 500 Series Awards. Later in life, she enjoyed being a part of the ‘Gutter Gussies’ league in Marcus, Iowa. Lil was a member of the Blue Mound Lutheran Church and later Kenneth Lutheran Church.

Lil was married to Stanley “Smithy” Smith on December 18, 1965. The couple made their home in Marcus, Iowa. Lil worked with Smithy many years selling small appliances and kitchen products to neighborhood hardware stores. Their sales territory would take them on rural roads across South Dakota, Iowa and Minnesota; with Lil behind the wheel of the car and Smithy planning and coaching the next sales call pitch. In the same fashion, Lil and Smithy took many fishing trips to the lakes of Northern Minnesota and often traveled to the Twin Cities to watch the Minnesota Twins. They enjoyed keeping up with the major league baseball scores and standings. More importantly, the couple always took time to laugh, have fun, love and care for each other.

Smithy died on July 18, 1993 and Lil moved back to Luverne in 1994 where she lived until 2005. She then moved to be with family in Minneapolis. In March of 2006, Lil became a resident of the Golden Living Center where she died peacefully on Thursday, February 7, 2013 in St. Louis Park, Minnesota at the age of 100 years, 2 months and 11 days.

Lil is lovingly remembered by her sisters, Helen (Kenny) Hellie of Pipestone, Minnesota and Beverly Chizum of Hailey, Idaho; three step-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; and other family and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Smithy; two brothers, Peter and Lloyd; and a sister, Eleanor Kvaas.