Betty Lou (Conner) Smith

Betty Lou (Conner) Smith passed away Sunday, June 30, 2019. She was born June 26, 1931, the daughter of Donald Thomas and Margaret Louise (Litchlyter) Conner. Betty married Lowell Austin Smith on May 6, 1951, in the parsonage of Farmers Chapel Church in Danville.  She passed away in the home they built together with their family.

Betty is survived by five children: Cathy Steinbaugh of Danville, Lloyd (Debbie) Smith of Hoopeston, Cheryl (Bruce) Brumett of Bismarck, Cindy (Neil) Ingram of Alvin, and Les (Angelica) Smith of Coppell, TX. 

Fourteen Grandchildren: Cathy’s kids: Andy Steinbaugh, Joanna (Brad) Howard, Jenny (Rick) Huffman, and Mike (Jen) Steinbaugh; Lloyd’s kids: Luke (Katie) Smith and Molly (Terry) Goodwin; Cheryl’s kids: Bill (April) Brumett, Brian (Katie) Brumett, Ben Brumett, Charlotte Brumett, and Christina Brumett; Cindy’s son: Chris (Adriane) Ingram; and Les’ kids: Lance Smith and Ellie Smith.

Thirteen Great Grandchildren: Morgen, Madisyn, Lucy, Teagyn, McKenna, Lawson, Rudd, Riker, Adlei, Layla, William, Noah and Austin and a new little one on the way.

Two sisters: Vera Louise Skinner and Donna Jane Yanders

She was preceded in death by her husband of 66 years Lowell; Mother and Father; her Mother-in-law and Father-in-law, Lee R. and Lola Belle Smith; Brother John Thomas Conner; Sister Pearl June Durr; Brother-in-law Jesse Skinner and Son-in-law, Jeff Steinbaugh.

Betty’s only brother was 20 years younger than she, thus she spent many hours with her father tending the fields and livestock on the family farm.  She attended Rossville and Bismarck schools graduating from Bismarck High School. 

Lowell and Betty spent their married life together in the Bismarck area.  They were active members of Farmers Chapel Church where they served as Youth group sponsors.  She taught Sunday School classes and Vacation Bible School and was very active in church activities.  Betty was active in the Bismarck and Grange Hall Schools, she was always a room mother, PTA Member and was the last president of the Grange Hall Grade School PTA before the schools consolidated.

She was a true housewife, cooking, cleaning, sewing, helping with the farm work and chores, whatever was needed to keep her family going. She always had a pitcher of freshly brewed iced tea and cookies, donuts or cinnamon rolls ready for anyone who might drop in.

When their own children were teens, Lowell and Betty hosted a multitude of kids at their home, known as “The Last Resort”

She loved having little ones around; her happiest moments were spent with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 10am – noon on Friday July 5th, 2019 at Kruger-Coan-Pape Funeral Home, 10 E. Williams Street in Danville.  Service will follow at noon on Friday July 5th at Kruger-Coan-Pape Funeral Home.  Messages and memories may be left on our website at www.KrugerCoanPape.com, or on the Kruger-Coan-Pape Funeral Home Facebook page.

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