Wednesday, February 1, 2017
Wednesday, February 1, 2017
Selma "Sammy" Smith was born June 26, 1923, and was the youngest of six children born to Edward and Gina (Sneen) Lee, on the family farm in the Archer community. She attended the Lee School, the Hamley School, and graduated from Plentywood High School in 1941. On December 24, 1944, she married Leonard Smith. They often joked that Leonard had the day off anyway, and that their marriage was a good arrangement because he had some land and she had some cattle. In 1949, they bought land north of Leonard's family farm where they built their home and gradually expanded the farm where they worked until 2002 when they moved to Plentywood.
Leonard and Sammy raised two daughters, Carol Jane and Clarice. Sammy was involved in the community as a 4-H leader and proudly taught many neighbor kids how to cook, bake and decorate cakes. She was also involved in Home Demonstration Club and helped sew many quilts with the church ladies for donation to Lutheran World Relief. Leonard and Sammy were proud members of the Faith Lutheran Church at Wanso where she taught Sunday school, rarely missed a church service and became acquainted with many lifelong friends.
Many happy years were spent in Sammy's farm kitchen, where she enjoyed baking and cooking for family, friends, church and community gatherings and for the many hired men who became friends while helping work their farm. Sammy was known as a good cook and was able to pull together a full meal if guests dropped in. Her elaborately decorated cakes were often present at celebrations around the community. Sammy always welcomed friends and family around the kitchen table with a cup of tea, a dessert and a good visit. When Leonard was semi-retired from farming, you would often find both of them in the kitchen baking, cooking or canning. Leonard and Selma never found a restaurant they liked as much as the one at home. Their pantry was always stocked with home canned fruits, vegetables, meat and wild berries.
Sammy also enjoyed square-dancing and following the Old Time Fiddlers to area dances, as well as painting and displaying her art at shows, collecting local art and attending shows, gardening outdoors and in her indoor plant room, traveling to visit relatives and annually attending the Norsk Hostfest in Minot, North Dakota.
Sammy passed away January 30, 2017 and is survived by her son-in-law Mark (Linda) Moberg of Redstone and her 6 grandchildren Shannon (Michael) Paikos of Rapid City, SD, Luke Hjort of Minneapolis, MN, Gina (Rod) Snyder of Culbertson, MT, Candice (Ty) Tlustosch of West Salem, WI, Liselle (Skyler) Strassman of Redstone, MT, Ethan (Keturah Vangen) Moberg of Redstone, MT; nine great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces, nephews and extended family members who were very important to her.
Sammy was preceded in death by her parents, husband Leonard, brothers and sisters; Edna Rost, Adolph Lee, Gladys Risa, Eddie Lee and Bill Lee and their spouses; Leonard's brother and sisters and spouses; daughters Carol Jane Hjort and Clarice Moberg and son-in-law Tim Hjort.
Sammy was a kind and caring woman, devoted to her faith, her loving husband, her family and the family farm. Her lighthearted personality and easy laugh will be missed by many, especially by her family and the friends who became just as close as family over the years.
Family and Friends are invited to stop by Fulkerson Funeral Home in Plentywood. www.fulkersonsplentywood.com