Betty Ann Smith

September 17, 1941 - January 16, 2021

Betty Ann Smith, 79 of Gibbon lost her battle with Kidney/bone cancer and gained her angel wings Saturday, January 16, 2021 at her home surrounded by her loved ones. A memorial service will be held 2:00 p.m. Friday, January 22, 2021 at O’Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral Home in Kearney with Pastor Mike Evans officiating. Betty Ann, the daughter of Wanda Scadden and Russell Reed was born September 17, 1941 in Iowa City, Iowa. She married David Elmer Smith on January 24, 1957 and to this union six children were blessed; Benjamin David, Clinton Eugene, Kenneth Ray, Joann Kay, AnnEtta Bell and Leon Russell. Betty was blessed to be able to stay home with her children while they were little. Once the children reached school age, she worked outside the home. Betty worked as a welder at Zenith; cleaning homes for the elderly; at the Nebraska Turkey Growers Cooperative processing plant, but her best memories were made babysitting her grandchildren through the years. Those among us left to cherish her memory are her husband of 64 years, David Smith of Gibbon; their children, Ben (Lisa) Smith of Shelton, Gene (Cindy) Smith of Gibbon, Kenny (Beverly) Smith of Gibbon, Joann (Bruce) Handley of Kearney, Ann (Tony) Hedrick of Gibbon, Leon (Jennifer) Smith of Gibbon; 21 grandchildren; 32 great grandchildren; sisters, Karen Kelly (Bill Collins) of South Sioux City, NE, Caroline (Max) Nelson of Lake Havasu, AZ; brother, Leon (Kay) Reed of Scottsdale, AZ; brothers-in-law, Delbert (Linda) Smith of Lamoni, IA, Clinton (Irene) Smith of Kearney; along with many nieces, nephews, extended family and friends. Betty was preceded in death by her parents, Russell Reed, Wanda and Dale Grimm; sisters, Connie Grimm, Susan Reed, Patricia Hodges, Patricia Baker, and Sharon Olson; brothers-in-law, Allen Smith and Ted Smith; sisters-in-law, Leota Cline, Erma Howell, Verna Feurt, and Marjorie Walker. Memorials are suggested to the Gibbon Volunteer Fire Department or to Etta Smith Scholarship through Gibbon Public Schools. Condolences may be shared online at www.osrfh.com. Services are entrusted to O’Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral and Cremation Services.