Betty Lou Smith

Betty Lou Smith (Sommer), age 84 of Pardeeville, passed away Wednesday, June 14, 2017 at the Columbia Health Care Center in Wyocena.

She was born August 21st on the family farm in Token Creek, Wisconsin, the daughter of Louis and Frieda (Lintner) Sommer. She went to a one room school house during her elementary years and graduated Deforest High School in 1950. Though she never filled out a job application, after high school, she was employed and trained on the job in a doctor’s office working in both DeForest and Pardeeville.

Betty married Merwyn J. Smith, April 26, 1958 at the United Brethren Church, in Arlington. Their marriage was gifted with four children. They purchased the Lintner furniture store and funeral home in Pardeeville, in 1960. They built their own funeral home in 1969, working together until Merwyn’s passing, January 13, 1979. She continued to work and oversee the businesses, later with the help of her two children, Mark and Gena. She continued being a part of the business operations until the beginning of 2016; fifty-six years in business.

It gave her great joy to serve her family and her community. She was well known for supporting numerous community activities, baking bread, sharing a meal and making an encouraging phone call. She has many lifelong friends. Through the many challenges in her life she remained optimistic and had a determined faith that God is in control. She was a member of the United Methodist Church and the Pardeeville Area Businessmen’s Association.

She is survived by her children Rhonda (Joseph) Hensler, West Bend, WI, Mark, Pardeeville, and Nedra (Jared) Veronick, LaGrange, KY; “adopted son” Don Colt, eight grandchildren; Josiah, Moriah, Matthias Hensler, Johannah (Damon) Wenig, Hayden, Jori Veronick, Desalee, Eyob Smith, god daughter, Rebekah Lou Taylor and many dear nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Merwyn, her daughter, Gena, sisters, Verna Cooper and Geraldine Cooper, four brother-in-laws Francis Cooper, Maurice Cooper, Leo Gallagher and LaMar Smith, and sister-in laws, Sara Smith and Donna Gallagher.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, June 24 at 11 AM at the United Methodist Church in Pardeeville with Rev. Kerry Wilson officiating. Interment will follow at Pardeeville Cemetery. Visitation will held Friday, June 23 from 4 to 8 PM at Grasse Funeral Home in Pardeeville (Formerly Smith Funeral Home, 106 Roosevelt Street, Pardeeville). Visitation will also be held from 9:30 AM until the time of services at the church Saturday. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Betty’s memory may be made to the United Methodist Church in Pardeeville or a charity of choice.

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