Obituary of Lenora Smith

Lenora Ann Dick Smith, 63, Vesper, died Friday, July 20, 2012 at St. Joseph?s Hospital in Marshfield, WI. Services will begin at 1:00 PM on Monday, July 23 at Lenora?s home (6430 Hemlock Road, Vesper) and conclude with burial at the Dexterville Cemetery in the Town of Dexterville. Wilbert Cleveland will officiate. Visitation will be from 3:00 PM until 5:00 PM on Sunday, July 22 at Lenora?s home. Lenora was born on September 26, 1948 in Wisconsin Rapids to the late Vanverd and Emaline (Grizzly Bear) Dick Sr. She married Charles E. Smith Sr. on November 27, 1967 in Wisconsin Rapids. Following high school; she pursued her CNA certification and attended UW Stevens Point, later earning two associates degrees from MSTC, Wisconsin Rapids. Lenora worked as a CNA at Edgewater Nursing Home for 9 years before becoming very active in various areas of the Ho-Chunk community. Within the Ho-Chunk Nation, she worked as a Youth Coordinator in Youth Services, Promotions Manager for Rainbow Casino in Nekoosa and served on many committees, such as the Personnel Committee, General Council Agency and the Ethics Review Board. Despite working and being active outside of the home, Lenora?s greatest love was that of being a mother to her 9 children and grandmother to 11. In addition to raising her own children, Lenora and Charles were foster parents to many children over the years. For Lenora, there was always room in her heart for one more child. Lenora was a proud member of the White Cross Native American Church. Lenora learned how to cook after she married Charles and she excelled in her new found abilities, winning 1st place in both frybread and soup competitions. Together, Lenora and Charles established and reinforced strong family values by how they lived their lives. In her free time, Lenora enjoyed working on sewing and craft projects. Lenora is survived by her beloved husband, Charles E. Smith Sr.; children, Dawn Marie (Jerome) Thoms of Plover, Leona Smith of Milwaukee, Charles (Lori) Smith of Lake Andes, SD, Mitchell (Christine) Smith of Wisconsin Rapids, Ellen (Babygirl) Smith of Vesper, Terrance Smith of Wisconsin Rapids, Michael YellowThunder of Unity, Taylor YellowThunder and Octavia Budreau both of Vesper; grandchildren, Dana Marie DeVerney, Ruth Georgine Smith II, Gabrielle Smith, Christian Smith, Ronee Smith, Piriel Smith, Sylence Smith, Sunny Smith, Cassady Smith, Talina Smith and Kaden YellowThunder; siblings, Norbert (Alice) Dick of Wisconsin Rapids, Keith Dick of Nekoosa, Vanverd Dick Jr. of Nekoosa and Elaine (Richard) Nakai of Nekoosa and extended family and friends. She is preceded in death by her sister, Lorna Nakai; brothers, Nathan and Crandall Dick and granddaughter, India Serene Dawn Smith. Taylor, Vollert and Jennings Funeral Home is assisting the family.