Corella C. Smith, 93, of Minden, passed away on Friday, October 12, 2018 at Bethany Home in Minden. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, October 18, 2018 at the Minden United Methodist Church with the Rev. Peter Choi officiating. Interment will be held following services at the Minden Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 17, 2018 at the Craig Funeral Home in Minden. Memorials in Corella's honor are kindly suggested to Bethany Home, the Minden Opera House or to the Minden United Methodist Women. Craig Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Corella Claire Smith was born on March 31, 1925 in Campbell, NE to Albert and Orise (L'Heureux) Heinrich. She attended school in Campbell and graduated from Campbell Senior High School. On May 29, 1944, she was united in marriage to Stanley P. Smith in Campbell. Corella worked as a rural school teacher and the couple lived and farmed south of Norman, NE until moving to Minden in 1982.
Corella was a member of the Minden United Methodist Church where she was very active in the U.M.W. for many years. She enjoyed dancing, traveling and playing cards. She also enjoyed following her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren in their activities.
Corella served on the initial Minden Opera House Board of Directors. She was instrumental in the development of the operations and programming of the Minden Opera House. She served on the Board for 13 years. In 2014, the Opera House Board named her the first Ex-Officio Director. Corella and Stanley spent many happy hours volunteering at the Opera House
Those left to cherish her memory include her daughter, LouEtta Lacher and husband, John of Yorba Linda, CA; sons, LaMoine Smith and wife, Mary of Minden and Neil Smith and wife, Lynn of Blair; nine grandchildren, Daren Lacher and wife Heather, Brent Lacher and wife, Pam, Abbey Rupe and husband, Chris, Jessica Compliment and husband, Brett, Sarah Hawthorne and husband, Ryan, Calli Hite and husband, Jeremy, Riley Smith and wife, Amy, Connor Smith and wife, Shea and Haley Guthrie and husband, Ryan; three step-grandchildren, Sydney Kobza and husband, Tony, Molly Mertz and husband, Dustin and Adam Mroczek and wife, Ann; 17 great-grandchildren; sisters, Cleonice, Charlotte, Celestine and Cheryl; brother, Charles, as well as a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Corella was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Stanley Smith; brother, Clayton Heinrich and his wife Jean; sister, Clarice Elmshauser; brother-in-law, Dwaine Hendricks and step brothers-in-law, Wayne and Willard Olson.
Tributes of memory can be shared with the family at www.craigfunerals.com .