Betty Lou Smith

1928 - 2023

BETTY LOU SMITH
April 13, 1928 ˜ December 6, 2023

Beloved mother, grandmother, and friend, Betty Lou Smith, age 95, passed away Dec. 6, 2023, at PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center in Vancouver, WA.

Betty was born April 13, 1928, to Carl and Avis Manning Brown, on a farm in Fountain, MN. She attended a one-room country school for eight years and graduated from Chatfield High School in 1945. After graduating from Sioux Falls McKennan Unit School of Nursing at the age of 20, she joined the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps. Betty remained active in the nursing profession for over 40 years. She held various positions as a registered nurse in clinics, hospitals, and colleges in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Montana before moving to the Pacific Northwest and retiring from Vancouver Veterans Adminstration Hospital.

Betty met her husband, Ray E. Smith, an electrical engineer, in Rapid City, SD. The two were married for 68 years before Ray’s passing in February 2019. Betty is survived by their two children; daughter, Carol Bleth and her husband, Leonard of Vancouver; son, Mark Smith and wife, Christy, of Dallas, TX; brother, Lee G. Brown of Minnesota; grandchildren, Tyler Bleth of Vancouver, Miranda Smith of Dallas, and Amanda Bleth Buoniconti and her husband, Anthony, of Chicago, IL; great-grandsons, Anthony John and Austin Buoniconti of Chicago, IL. One brother, Dale C. Brown, and two sisters, Geraldine Amundson and June Marzoff, preceded her in death.

Betty was a phenomenal lady inside and out. She always listened, inspired, and cared for her family’s well-being. No matter what age, she was self-less and always put others ahead herself. Her kindness was evident to all she came in contact with. Betty absolutely adored and lived for her grandchildren. Her joy and love became infectious when she was able to spend time with her great-grandchildren. Being surrounded with her close family and friends is what made her happiest.

A private family gathering to honor and celebrate Betty’s wonderful life will be held Wednesday, Dec. 13, at Evergreen Memorial Gardens in Vancouver.
Betty’s family would like to give a special thanks to the staff and caregivers at Touchmark at Fairway Village for kindness and professionalism.
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