Barbara Smith

Barbara (Sanford) Smith, 62, of rural of Elm Creek, died Saturday, Feb. 20, 2010 at her residence. Memorial services will be held at 3:00 PM, Friday, February 26 at the O'Brien - Straatmann Funeral Home in Kearney with Rev. Jack Govier officiating. Interment will be at a later date. Memorials are suggested to the family, to be designated later. Online condolences or personal reflections may be submitted at osafh.com. O'Brien - Straatmann Funeral Home of Kearney and Elm Creek is in charge of arrangements. She was born August 24, 1947, the fourth child of Gerald D. and Dorothy E. (Woods) Sanford. She was born at the Mary Lanning Memorial Hospital in Hastings, NE. She grew up in the village of Ayr, NE. She attended Ayr Public School K-8th grade. She attended 9-12th grade and graduated with the class of 1965 from the Blue Hill Public School. In October of 1966, she married Arthur A. Boettcher, Jr. To this union three daughters were born. Her first husband passed away in 1987. While her first husband was alive, they owned and operated Boettcher the Butcher custom locker and processing plant for 10 years. She worked a variety of jobs, convenience store clerk, fast food service, and store stocker. On August 6, 1998, she married Michael A. Smith in Sturgis, SD. The mayor of Sturgis married them in his back yard during Bike Rally Week. In January 2004, she was diagnosed with emphysema and retired from work. Mike and Barb enjoyed riding their Harley Davidson. They had many good times riding with Dave and Kay Banner. Barb loved riding her horse, Ahab. Her grandbabies were her special joy. She leaves to mourn; husband Michael Smith of Elm Creek; daughters, Jamie A. Boettcher of Kearney, Heidi K. Whitten of Elkhorn, and Lindsey D. Garst, or she was affectionately referred to as LDB, of Kearney; step children, Michael K. Smith of Kearney, Kylie Rader of Grand Island and Tim Smith of Kearney; sons-in-law and step son-in-law, Travis Whitten of Elkhorn, Nathan Garst of Kearney, Heath Rader of Grand Island; step daughter-in-law, Casey Smith of Kearney; grandchildren, Taylor and Rylan Boettcher, Kaitlynn, Zachary and Samantha Garst, and Brenna and Logan Whitten; step grandchildren, Hunter, Kailee and Kendra Rader, Jordan, Cassy and Ayla Smith and Haydan Smith; mother, Dorothy E. Sanford of Lincoln; brother, Larry Sanford and wife Diane of Ayr; sisters, Judy Johnson of Lincoln and Glenda Ruhter of Prosser, NE; sister-in-law, Diane Sanford; brothers-in-law, Glen Johnson of Lincoln and Stan Ruhter of Prosser; father and mother-in-law, Darrell and Ruth Smith; brothers and sisters-in-law, Dan and Gloria Smith, Randall and Carrie Smith, Mark and Ruth Smith and Vince and Sherie Smith; a host of nieces and nephews; her horse, Ahab; and her pets, Babee and Ruby. She was preceded in death by her father, maternal grandparents, paternal grandparents and her best friend, Dakota.

Barbara Smith

August 24, 1947 - February 20, 2010