A Memorial Service to remember former Chadron resident Laurine Smith will be Saturday, Aug 1st, 2020 at 10:00 AM at the Chadron United Methodist Church, 847 Shelton St in Chadron, NE.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Chadron United Methodist Church; the Marle, Laurine, and Chip Smith Scholarship Fund at the Chadron State College Foundation; or Westminster Presbyterian Church in Lincoln.
Laurine Thelma (Brown) Smith was born February 15, 1926, to Arthur and Ruth (Dixon) Brown in Rapid City, SD, and passed away peacefully on April 7, 2020, in Lincoln, NE.
Laurine’s family moved to Gordon and Hays Springs, NE, as her father was in the grocery business. She graduated in 1944 from Hay Springs High School, where she was a cheerleader and enjoyed playing the French horn in the band and singing in the chorus, girls trio and sextet. In addition to all that, she worked for her dad at the grocery store.
Laurine married her high school sweetheart and love of her life Marle D. Smith on July 10, 1944, in Alexandria, LA, where Marle was stationed with the US Army Air Corp. To this union was born two sons, Marle “Chip” Gerard and Arthur “Mick” Michael. Chip was born in 1945 when Marle was a POW in Germany during World War II while Mick was born the following year in 1946.
Laurine and Marle moved with their children to Chadron in 1956 where she worked for First National Bank of Chadron and as a Payroll Clerk for Chadron State College through the years. She was a member of the Chadron Methodist Church, PEO Chapter FP, American Legion Auxiliary, and the Chadron State College Golden Eagles.
Laurine enjoyed playing bridge and making many different kinds of candy at Christmas to share with family and friends, but the greatest joys in her life were her grandchildren and great grandchildren – who gave her a special name, Grandma “Reen”.
In 2011, she moved to Lincoln to be closer to her family. Laurine loved every minute she was able to spend with her grandchildren celebrating birthdays, holidays, and attending their events. She was their biggest fan.
Laurine was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Dona L. Goertler; husband, Marle D. Smith; and son, Marle “Chip” G. Smith.
Laurine is survived by son, Arthur “Mick” Smith of Portland, OR; daughter-in-law Marilyn Smith of Lincoln; grandson, Dustin (Amber) Smith of Lincoln; granddaughters, Stacy Graham of Lincoln and Sonja Edwards of Portland, OR; great grandchildren, Bridger Marle, Carly Genevieve, Kennedy Laurine Smith and Colton Christopher Graham, all of Lincoln; and a niece and several nephews and their families.