Faith Arlene (Dech) Smith was born on December 27, 1918, in Ithaca, Nebraska, to Cleon and Edna Millie (Robb) Dech during a severe flu epidemic. She attended school at Ithaca for five years until her family moved to Silver Creek, Nebraska, where she completed her education, graduating from Silver Creek High School in 1936. She played in the band and orchestra and sang in the glee club and mixed choir. Faith attended Midland College and the University of Nebraska for two years, giving her the opportunity to teach for six years.
Faith was united in marriage to Leo Smith on October 17, 1943, in Memphis, Nebraska, in a service officiated by Rev. Earl Weber. Faith's three sisters participated in the wedding with Nita being Faith's maid of honor, Norma playing the organ, and Naomi serving as vocalist. Byron Bevans, Naomi's husband, was Leo's best man. It was a partnership that lasted 67 years. To this union was born three sons, Alan, Kenneth, and Steven. Music was the center of Faith's life. She sang her first solo at age six at church. She took singing lessons for two years in Columbus, Nebraska. Not only did she direct the church choir for many years, she played violin, trombone, organ and piano. Over the years, she participated in three cantatas as the main soprano. Her gift of music carried over to her youngest son Steve and well as her granddaughters Amanda and Alison. Faith taught school for a number of years prior to her marriage. She also was the head librarian for the Wahoo City Library from 1977 to 1983. Faith was a member of the Saunders County Historical Society and the United Methodist Church in Wahoo.
Faith entered eternal life on October 26, 2010. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Leo, and sons Alan, Kenneth, and Steve; sisters Norma and husband Lewis West and John Smith, Nita and husband Clarence Swartz, and Naomi and husband Byron Bevans. She is survived by her daughter-in-law Bonnie Smith, Lincoln; daughter-in-law Roma Smith, Wahoo; three grandchildren, Heath Kenneth and wife Jaclyn Smith, Ithaca; Amanda Michele and husband Jason Volz, Lincoln; and Alison Faith Smith, College Station, Texas; and two great-granddaughters Abigail Smith and McKenna Smith.
While growing up, Faith was the youngest of her four sisters, the one they had to protect. She was also the one who made her sister Naomi angry because she had to do more chores because Faith was "too little". The bond of the four Dech sisters was very important to each of them and they shared that bond their entire lives. During her adult life, Faith suffered from migraine headaches for which medicine had not found a cure that worked for her. Perhaps the most difficult thing Faith endured on this earth was the death of all three of her sons, with whom she is now reunited along with her husband Leo. The last years of her life, Faith resided at the Saunders County Care Center. Whenever Faith was mentioned to any of the staff, the comment was, "She's is the sweetest person; she has the most wonderful smile." That smile came from her strong faith in God who carried Faith during the tough times and made her the strong woman she was for over 91 years.
Faith was united in marriage to Leo Smith on October 17, 1943, in Memphis, Nebraska, in a service officiated by Rev. Earl Weber. Faith's three sisters participated in the wedding with Nita being Faith's maid of honor, Norma playing the organ, and Naomi serving as vocalist. Byron Bevans, Naomi's husband, was Leo's best man. It was a partnership that lasted 67 years. To this union was born three sons, Alan, Kenneth, and Steven. Music was the center of Faith's life. She sang her first solo at age six at church. She took singing lessons for two years in Columbus, Nebraska. Not only did she direct the church choir for many years, she played violin, trombone, organ and piano. Over the years, she participated in three cantatas as the main soprano. Her gift of music carried over to her youngest son Steve and well as her granddaughters Amanda and Alison. Faith taught school for a number of years prior to her marriage. She also was the head librarian for the Wahoo City Library from 1977 to 1983. Faith was a member of the Saunders County Historical Society and the United Methodist Church in Wahoo.
Faith entered eternal life on October 26, 2010. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Leo, and sons Alan, Kenneth, and Steve; sisters Norma and husband Lewis West and John Smith, Nita and husband Clarence Swartz, and Naomi and husband Byron Bevans. She is survived by her daughter-in-law Bonnie Smith, Lincoln; daughter-in-law Roma Smith, Wahoo; three grandchildren, Heath Kenneth and wife Jaclyn Smith, Ithaca; Amanda Michele and husband Jason Volz, Lincoln; and Alison Faith Smith, College Station, Texas; and two great-granddaughters Abigail Smith and McKenna Smith.
While growing up, Faith was the youngest of her four sisters, the one they had to protect. She was also the one who made her sister Naomi angry because she had to do more chores because Faith was "too little". The bond of the four Dech sisters was very important to each of them and they shared that bond their entire lives. During her adult life, Faith suffered from migraine headaches for which medicine had not found a cure that worked for her. Perhaps the most difficult thing Faith endured on this earth was the death of all three of her sons, with whom she is now reunited along with her husband Leo. The last years of her life, Faith resided at the Saunders County Care Center. Whenever Faith was mentioned to any of the staff, the comment was, "She's is the sweetest person; she has the most wonderful smile." That smile came from her strong faith in God who carried Faith during the tough times and made her the strong woman she was for over 91 years.
Faith Arlene (Dech) Smith was born on December 27, 1918, in Ithaca, Nebraska, to Cleon and Edna Millie (Robb) Dech during a severe flu epidemic. She attended school at Ithaca for five years until her family moved to Silver Creek, Nebraska, where she completed her education, graduating from Silver Creek High School in 1936. She played in the band and orchestra and sang in the glee club and mixed choir. Faith attended Midland College and the University of Nebraska for two years, giving her the opportunity to teach for six years.
Faith was united in marriage to Leo Smith on October 17, 1943, in Memphis, Nebraska, in a service officiated by Rev. Earl Weber. Faith's three sisters participated in the wedding with Nita being Faith's maid of honor, Norma playing the organ, and Naomi serving as vocalist. Byron Bevans, Naomi's husband, was Leo's best man. It was a partnership that lasted 67 years. To this union was born three sons, Alan, Kenneth, and Steven. Music was the center of Faith's life. She sang her first solo at age six at church. She took singing lessons for two years in Columbus, Nebraska. Not only did she direct the church choir for many years, she played violin, trombone, organ and piano. Over the years, she participated in three cantatas as the main soprano. Her gift of music carried over to her youngest son Steve and well as her granddaughters Amanda and Alison. Faith taught school for a number of years prior to her marriage. She also was the head librarian for the Wahoo City Library from 1977 to 1983. Faith was a member of the Saunders County Historical Society and the United Methodist Church in Wahoo.
Faith entered eternal life on October 26, 2010. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Leo, and sons Alan, Kenneth, and Steve; sisters Norma and husband Lewis West and John Smith, Nita and husband Clarence Swartz, and Naomi and husband Byron Bevans. She is survived by her daughter-in-law Bonnie Smith, Lincoln; daughter-in-law Roma Smith, Wahoo; three grandchildren, Heath Kenneth and wife Jaclyn Smith, Ithaca; Amanda Michele and husband Jason Volz, Lincoln; and Alison Faith Smith, College Station, Texas; and two great-granddaughters Abigail Smith and McKenna Smith.
While growing up, Faith was the youngest of her four sisters, the one they had to protect. She was also the one who made her sister Naomi angry because she had to do more chores because Faith was "too little". The bond of the four Dech sisters was very important to each of them and they shared that bond their entire lives. During her adult life, Faith suffered from migraine headaches for which medicine had not found a cure that worked for her. Perhaps the most difficult thing Faith endured on this earth was the death of all three of her sons, with whom she is now reunited along with her husband Leo. The last years of her life, Faith resided at the Saunders County Care Center. Whenever Faith was mentioned to any of the staff, the comment was, "She's is the sweetest person; she has the most wonderful smile." That smile came from her strong faith in God who carried Faith during the tough times and made her the strong woman she was for over 91 years.
Faith was united in marriage to Leo Smith on October 17, 1943, in Memphis, Nebraska, in a service officiated by Rev. Earl Weber. Faith's three sisters participated in the wedding with Nita being Faith's maid of honor, Norma playing the organ, and Naomi serving as vocalist. Byron Bevans, Naomi's husband, was Leo's best man. It was a partnership that lasted 67 years. To this union was born three sons, Alan, Kenneth, and Steven. Music was the center of Faith's life. She sang her first solo at age six at church. She took singing lessons for two years in Columbus, Nebraska. Not only did she direct the church choir for many years, she played violin, trombone, organ and piano. Over the years, she participated in three cantatas as the main soprano. Her gift of music carried over to her youngest son Steve and well as her granddaughters Amanda and Alison. Faith taught school for a number of years prior to her marriage. She also was the head librarian for the Wahoo City Library from 1977 to 1983. Faith was a member of the Saunders County Historical Society and the United Methodist Church in Wahoo.
Faith entered eternal life on October 26, 2010. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Leo, and sons Alan, Kenneth, and Steve; sisters Norma and husband Lewis West and John Smith, Nita and husband Clarence Swartz, and Naomi and husband Byron Bevans. She is survived by her daughter-in-law Bonnie Smith, Lincoln; daughter-in-law Roma Smith, Wahoo; three grandchildren, Heath Kenneth and wife Jaclyn Smith, Ithaca; Amanda Michele and husband Jason Volz, Lincoln; and Alison Faith Smith, College Station, Texas; and two great-granddaughters Abigail Smith and McKenna Smith.
While growing up, Faith was the youngest of her four sisters, the one they had to protect. She was also the one who made her sister Naomi angry because she had to do more chores because Faith was "too little". The bond of the four Dech sisters was very important to each of them and they shared that bond their entire lives. During her adult life, Faith suffered from migraine headaches for which medicine had not found a cure that worked for her. Perhaps the most difficult thing Faith endured on this earth was the death of all three of her sons, with whom she is now reunited along with her husband Leo. The last years of her life, Faith resided at the Saunders County Care Center. Whenever Faith was mentioned to any of the staff, the comment was, "She's is the sweetest person; she has the most wonderful smile." That smile came from her strong faith in God who carried Faith during the tough times and made her the strong woman she was for over 91 years.
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