Verla L. Smith, age 82, a resident of rural Wells, passed away Sunday, June 13, 2010 at the Ottawa County Health Center, Minneapolis.
She was born April 1, 1928 at Minneapolis, to Floyd Elmer and Bertha Elizabeth (Ayers) Montague.
Verla was a surgical technician in the 1950's and became a Registered Nurse in 1977. She worked at Salina Regional Health Center until her retirement, and later at the Good Samaritan Society, Minneapolis. Her first husband, Hansford Lloyd Swagerty died in 1961. Verla was married to Jack E. Smith in 1963.
She was a former member of the Sweet Adelines.
Survivors include her husband Jack Smith, who is a father to Lloyd Swagerty and his wife Judy of Bennington; James Swagerty and his wife Toni of Minneapolis and Jeri and her husband Joel Wimer of Smolan. Also surviving are two brothers, Frank Montague of Valley Center and Larry Montague of Knob Noster, Missouri; three sisters, Elma Postlethwaite, Esther Harner and Albertha Adam, all of Salina; eight grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be Sunday, June 20, 2010 from 2 to 8 P.M. at Wilson Shields Funeral Home, with the family present from 2 to 4 P.M. The funeral will be at 2 P.M. Monday, June 21, at the funeral home, with burial in Highland Cemetery, Minneapolis. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Ottawa County Health Center or Good Samaritan Society, Minneapolis.