Stephanie Smithson

Stephanie (Albertson) Smithson was born to Roger and Nancy (Rosen) Albertson on March 19, 1973. She graduated from Marshall High School with the class of 1991 with honors. She worked various jobs in Marshall before moving to Duluth to attend college at the U of M Duluth, earning her Bachelor's Degree in Pre-Med. She then joined the Army, and was stationed in Kosovo and Germany. She studied Russian at the Presidio in Monterey, California.

Steph was united in marriage to Joel Smithson on September 21, 2002. They lived in Hawaii while Joel was stationed there, before moving to their present home in Stanardsville, Virginia. Also, they spent much time, in recent years, traveling back and forth to Arizona and New Mexico.

Steph was unbelievably witty, and seemed to have a comeback for anything fiery that was thrown her way. She also had a knack for quoting movies, and if you played a guessing game against her, no doubt, you would probably lose almost every time!

She, in our opinion, was a Martha Stewart ten-fold. She could do just about anything and excelled at it, like cooking, baking, crocheting, sewing, woodworking, organizing, solving puzzles, working on cars, plumbing, heating, and roofing. You name it; she could do it or fix it.

She loved being around children and teaching them about cooking and baking, science and reading, and nature and trees. She was very engaged and a great teacher.

Steph and Joel would travel to Arizona the end of July every year for the annual "Smithson" reunion in the mountains. She loved every minute of it, and helped with many things that the groups of families needed. Eventually becoming the bookkeeper.

Steph passed away unexpectedly in Virginia, on October 28, 2025 with her husband and Jack by her side. She was an organ donor, so many people will be blessed by her gifts.

She is survived by her husband Joel; father Roger Albertson, second mom Vicky Albertson of Marshall, MN; sister Genevieve (Jeremy) Maronde of Marshall, MN; brother Jeremiah Albertson of Ortonville, MN; brother Josef Halverson of Minneapolis, MN; son Jack (Miranda) Smithson of Las Cruces, NM; daughter Felia (Mike) Bunner of Carnation, WA; nephews Steven Albertson, Russell Monsen, and Mason Maronde; nieces Nancy Maronde and Sofia Halverson; grandchildren Madison, and Joel Smithson. Great-niece Briella Monsen; and let's not forget fur baby Molly, and grand fur babies Grindle, Hero, Mara, and Beta. Also, many aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.

She is preceded in death by her mother Nancy Jo (Rosen) Albertson; grandparents norma (Willander) (Rosen) Heipler, George Rosen, and Ed Heipler, also Archie and Gertrude (Blum) Albertson.