Genevieve E. Smith

Genevieve Eleanor Johnson Smith was born January 21, 1916, the youngest child of Claus G. and Jennie Olivia (Lindlief) Johnson in rural Alta, Iowa. She was baptized into the Christian faith at her parent’s farm home on June 11, 1916. On April 27, 1930 she was confirmed in the Immanuel Lutheran Church north of Alta. Her confirmation verse was 1 Timothy 6:12, “Fight the good fight of the faith, take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” Her confirmation hymn was “O, Jesus I Have Promised.” Her confirmation catechism question was the 3rd article of the Apostles Creed and its explanation, which she could quote from memory. Genevieve graduated from Highview Consolidated School in rural Linn Grove in May of 1933.

Genevieve was united in marriage to Earl Ellwood Smith in the Trinity Lutheran Church in Sioux City on February 22, 1938. To this union two daughters were born, Jennie Ann and Janet Louise.

In 1955 they moved from the country into Alta and became members of Trinity Lutheran Church. She was very involved in her church, Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, Federated Nokomis Study Club and special mission projects. She was also a member of the Alta Senior Citizens, Local 500’s Friends clubs and the Northwest Iowa Chapter of the American Scandinavian Foundation.

Genevieve moved from her home to Wel-Life on April 5, 2011 and lived there until she moved to North Lake Manor on August 2, 2012.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Earl, on February 15, 1995; daughter, Jennie Ann Freeman on February 1, 2001; six sisters, Mildred Johnson, Frances Hansen and Marie Anderson, Lucille Cox, Evelyn Mickelson and Alice Endresen and one brother, Kenneth Johnson.

Genevieve is survived by her daughter, Janet and husband Keith Benson of Edina, MN; son-in-law, Charles Freeman and wife Carol of Littleton, CO; seven grandchildren, Randall and wife Rose Freeman, Daniel and wife Paula Freeman, Andrew Freeman, Sara Taylor, Brian and wife Debbie Benson, Carrie and husband Jeff Benson and Jill and husband David Holum; great-grandchildren, Josh, Holly, Zachary and Zane Freeman, Liam, Patrick, Daniel and Nora Benson, Haven and Ries Benson and Cooper, Lexie and Kenzie Holum; and many relatives and friends from Trinity Lutheran Church and Wel-Life and North Lake Manor.