Elizabeth Meta Alma "Beth" Smith

SMITH, Elizabeth "Beth" Meta Alma
(1924-2011)

Passed away peacefully on March 17, 2011. She will be deeply missed by all who were blessed by her zest for life and compassion for others. Beth was born on December 30, 1924 in Deer Park, WA as the eighth of ten children to Frederick and Johanna Knauft. Her life story is one of remarkable perseverance, faith, and love. Beginning at age five with the untimely death of her mother, Beth and her remaining eight siblings learned early to live with little and to mature quickly. As a single parent, her father placed Beth and her siblings in the care of other families with limited success. Beth eventually came to live with her father and two younger siblings in Spokane where she learned parental skills, humility, and deep gratitude. As a graduate of J.R. Rogers High School (1943), she attended Walla Walla College and earned a teaching certificate in Elementary Education from Eastern Washington College of Education (1947). Her many joys in life often came from her family, friends and spiritual faith. She married the love of her life, Walter (Bud) Smith in 1950. Together they raised and loved three boys, enjoyed dogs, snow skied, traveled, and nurtured robust gardens of vegetables, fruits, and flowers. She was committed to the future of her boys and did all that she could to send them to college and to support them with abiding love and encouragement. When grandchildren arrived, she enthusiastically took them under her wings and loved them as well. Each grandchild has lasting and special memories of Beth that they will carry in their hearts forever. After several years raising three sons with Bud, she returned to her passion for teaching children as a substitute in the Spokane school system. Before long, she was teaching full time. Her careers culminated with her longest tenure of 17 years guiding 4th graders at Regal Elementary School in northeast Spokane. Underlying Beth's life was an enduring and precious spiritual faith. She was an active member of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church (S.D.A) for over fifty years, spending much of that time with the members of Spokane Central S.D.A Church. During the last decade of her life, Beth struggled with Alzheimer's disease, but through it all, her resilient spirit, heart of gold, and compassion for others were empowering, sustaining and a source of comfort to all. Beth's final three years were spent in the special company and loving care of staff at her new home at "Classy Retreat" in southwest Spokane. She was preceded in death by her husband (Bud, 2009), four brothers (William, Arthur, Rudy, Alfred), and sister (Helen). Surviving Beth are her brothers Emil Knauft (Boise, ID) and Henry Knauft (Spokane); sisters Doretta Moreno (Temple City, CA), and Martha Carmen (Davenport, WA); and three sons: Scott (Seattle, WA; Michaele (wife), Conrad, Nathaniel); George (Spokane, WA, Karen (wife), Elizabeth, Hanna); and Gerry (Minneapolis, MN; Elizabeth (wife), Ada, Zoe, Ema). Beth's ardent love of life and genuine compassion for others and for the beauty of the earth with live on in the hearts and minds of all whose lives she touched so profoundly. Visitation will be Tuesday, March 22, 2011 from 12-8pm at the funeral home. Funeral services will be Wednesday, March 23, 2011 at 10am, also at the funeral home, with committal to follow at Spokane Memorial Gardens. Please visit Beth's tribute and leave a condolence at www.hennesseyfuneralhomes.com. Arrangement have been entrusted to: