Anna Helen Smith

1918 - 2022  (104 years)

• Name	Anna Helen Smith  [1, 2, 3]
  Birth	15 Feb 1918	Fillmore County, Nebraska   [2, 3]
  Gender	Female
  Death	19 Sep 2022	Nebraska
  Burial	Emerald Cemetery, Emerald, Lancaster County, Nebraska
  Notes	She was said to have married a Clarence Otto around 1945. In the obituaries of at least two of her siblings, however, she is simply listed as Anna Smith. Obituary Anna Helen Smith, 104 of Emerald and Lincoln passed away on September 19, 2022. Anna was born on February 15, 1918 on the family farm near Milligan, Nebraska to Edward and Anna (Capek) Smith. She was one of five children. Anna attended elementary school District 96, which was 3/4 mile from the family farm. Anna had perfect attendance in 1930. Anna graduated from Milligan High School in 1935. Shorty after graduation she moved to Lincoln where she worked as a maid. In 1942, after World War II broke out, she knew there were other opportunities for ladies. Meadow Gold Dairy had an ad in the newspaper for ladies to deliver milk with horse and wagon. She applied and got the job. She felt her farm experience helped her land the job. She delivered milk in the 27th, A to South Street area. Milk was in glass bottles, and sold for 9 cents a quart. She got off work early enough so she was able to acquire a second job. She cooked and served food at the Hi-Y, where the students from the Aviation School ate their meals. Later she worked at Cushman's assembling bomb fuses until the war was over. Later she worked at Western Electric for 10 years. When the company moved from Lincoln to Omaha she opted to stay in Lincoln. In 1962 she met Ray Wells, a farmer. Together they raised hogs, farmed the land and raised horses. They enjoyed participating in local rodeos. She even learned barrel racing. She retired in 1981 after Ray's death. She then bought a house near Bryan Hospital and had it moved on her property. She spent many hours grooming her flower gardens which contained a multitude of Iris, perennials, and clematis. She was a member of the Lincoln Iris Society. She won awards at the Iris Shows- best color and for having the second most blue ribbons. She lived independently until three months before her 100th birthday. Most recently, she has been a resident at Tabitha long-term care in Crete, Nebraska. Anna is survived by a daughter, Paula (Michael) Downey, Warner Robins Georgia, three Grandchildren: Jillian (Kirt) Kreutzer, Adam (Kellie) Downey, and Caitlyn Downey, two great grandchildren: Elliot and Jude Kreutzer. Nieces and Nephews: Carol (Jim) Hansen, Denton, Texas, Sharon Featherston, Twin Falls, Idaho, Gary (Chere) Tuttle, Friend, Nebraska, Vickie Garrett, Sarasota, Florida, Martha Synhorst, Cedaredge, Colorado, and David Tuttle, Tekamah, Nebraska, as well as a multitude of great nieces and nephews. She is also survived by many distant relatives and friends from the Iris Club, Denton Historical Society, Extension Service and numerous other clubs with which she was involved, as well as caring neighbors, Eunice and John Cernohlavek and Marge and Ron Grieff. She was preceded in death by parents, Edward and Anna Smith, Sisters and brother in laws: Helen and George Mika, Clara and Clarence Vanek, Dorothy and Carl Tuttle as well as one brother and sister-in-law: Edward and Helen Smith. She was also preceded in death by her ex-husband, Clarence Otto, and significant other, Ray Wells. Funeral Services will be held on Friday, September 23, 2022 at 10:30am at Butherus Maser & Love Funeral Home, 4040 A Street, Lincoln, Nebraska. Burial will be at the Emerald Cemetery. Memorials to the Exeter/Milligan School Scholarship Foundation c/o Generations Bank, 139 South Exeter Ave., Exeter, NE 68351. (Published on Butherus, Maser & Love Funeral Home website, courtesy of Dennis Belohlavy)
  Person ID	I3362	Strong Family Tree
  Last Modified	24 Sep 2022

  
  

  Father	Edward Smith,   b. 9 Aug 1889, Kramer, Lancaster County, Nebraska d. 9 Apr 1953, Crete, Saline County, Nebraska (Age 63 years)
  Mother	Anna Capek,   b. 25 Jun 1892, Milligan, Fillmore County, Nebraska d. 2 Jul 1934, Nebraska (Age 42 years)
  Marriage	11 Aug 1913	Geneva, Fillmore County, Nebraska   [4]
  	https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.2/MTPG-JP2/p1 Groom's Name: Ed Smith Groom's Birth Date: 1889 Groom's Birthplace: ... Co., Neb. Groom's Age: 24 Bride's Name: Anna Capek Bride's Birth Date: 1892 Bride's Birthplace: Fillmore Co., Neb. Bride's Age: 21 Marriage Date: 11 Aug 1913 Marriage Place: Geneva, Fillmore, Nebraska Groom's Father's Name: John Smith Groom's Mother's Name: Barbra Papech Bride's Father's Name: John Capek Bride's Mother's Name: Mary Kocal Groom's Race: White Groom's Marital Status: Single Groom's Previous Wife's Name: Bride's Race: White Bride's Marital Status: Single Bride's Previous Husband's Name: Indexing Project (Batch) Number: M00315-2 System Origin: Nebraska-EASy Source Film Number: 1986905 Reference Number: 287 Collection: Nebraska Marriages, 1855-1995
  Family ID	F5853	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Event Map		Birth - 15 Feb 1918 - Fillmore County, Nebraska Death - 19 Sep 2022 - Nebraska  = Link to Google Earth
  Pin Legend	: Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  
  

• Sources

  [S26] Milligan Centennial History Book Committee, "Milligan Nebraska 1988-2008, Centennial Supplement Book". [S548] Belohlavy, Dennis (belohdb@windstream.net) "Family Tree of Dennis L. and Rebecca J. "Becky" (Arnold) Belohlavy ; http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?db=belohlavy, (http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?db=belohlavy). [S564] 1930 United States Federal Census [Ancestry.com. database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2002., (Original data: United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Fifteenth Census of the United States, 1930. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1930. T626, 2,667 rolls. Containing records for approximately 123 million Americans, the 1930 United States Federal Census is the largest census released to date and is the most recent census available for public access. The census gives us a glimpse into the lives of Americans in 1930, and contains information about a household?s family members and occupants including: birthplaces, occupations, immigration, citizenship, and military service. The names of those listed in the census are linked to actual images of the 1930 Census.), Nebraska, Saline County, Atlanta Precinct Enumerated April 18, 1930 by Frank M. Svec ED 76-1 SD 11 Sheet 4A Stamped 114 (Reliability: 3). [S219] Milligan Centennial History Book Committee HISTORY OF MILLIGAN, NEBRASKA 1888-1988 (Walsworth Publishing, Marceline, MO).