Elizabeth "Betty" Smith

Elizabeth June (Betty) Smith, 91, died Sunday, August 2 at her home in Broomfield, Colorado. She was born January 21, 1924, on the family farm 9 miles north of Lexington, Nebraska, to Arthur and Ella Smith. The youngest of nine children, Betty attended a country school in the early years. Upon graduation from Lexington High School, she and some girlfriends joined the war effort in Denver and later at the Ordinance Plant in Grand Island, Nebraska, assembling bombs. She returned to Lexington where she took courses in bookkeeping, then worked for a local business as bookkeeper for many years. In 1961, she moved to Colorado where she was eventually employed at Rocky Flats in the Accounting Department until she retired in 1990. While working full time she took night classes at the University of Colorado, obtaining a bachelor’s degree in Business. An avid Broncos fan, Betty and a friend held season tickets and attended all the home games for many years. More recently she watched the games on TV, as well as the Rockies games. Betty did beautiful hand work, making cross stitch and needlepoint pictures. At the last family reunion she gifted them to all her nieces and nephews. A picture puzzle would keep her up all hours of the night until she completed it. Shortly before her passing she completed a 5,000 piece puzzle of angels! Angels had become her theme following a cancer diagnosis in 1993, which she survived. Betty was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers Carl, Merle, Lloyd, Gerald, Melvin, and Vernon Smith; and sisters Velma Apgar, and Doris Smith. She was also preceded in death by a niece, Patricia Patton and nephew, Larry Smith. She is survived by nieces Deanna (Dee) Clary of Cheyenne, WY; Susan Orsborn of Adams, NE; Kathe Keiner of Omaha; Karen McNeff of Palmer, NE; Nancy Long of Arapahoe, NE; and nephews Robert Smith of Plano, TX; James Smith of Villa Valtelena CA; David Smith of Glendale, CA; Gary Smith of Gothenburg, NE; and Rick Smith of Gainesville, FL. A memorial service will be held at Highlands Trail Retirement Home, 5085 W. 136th Ave. in Broomfield at 10 a.m. on Thursday, August 13. A Graveside Service will be Friday, August 14, 2015, at 11:00 a.m. at Hewitt Cemetery at Lexington. Visitation will be held prior to the graveside from 9:30-11:00 a.m. at the Reynolds-Love Funeral Chapel in Lexington. Memorials are may be gifted to the family for later designation. Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington is assisting the family with local arrangements . To share online condolences please visit: reynoldslovefuneralhome.com.