Grace Smith, 92

Wednesday, November 19, 2003

Grace Elizabeth Pfeiffer Smith, 92, of Boise, formerly of Mountain Home, died Nov. 6, 2003, of natural causes in Boise.

Funeral arrangements were under the direction of Alsip & Persons Funeral Chapel, Nampa. Services were held Wednesday, Nov. 12, with Pastor Edward Kerschensteiner of the Boise Valley Church of the Brethren officiating. Internment followed at Kohler Lawn Cemetery.

Grace was born March 15, 1911, in La Grande, Ore., to George Washington and Elizabeth Combs Pfeiffer. At the age of 7 Grace moved with her family to Nampa where she graduated from Nampa High School in 1929.

Grace continued her formal education at Lewiston State Normal College in Lewiston, receiving her teaching degree.

In 1936 she married John Perry Beberness. They resided in Oregon for a short period of time.The marriage later ended and she returned to Nampa where she held a job at the Falks I.D. department store.

On Jan. 19, 1939, she married Winfield Kenneth Smith. They owned and operated the Bar-K Stock Ranch, which was one of the largest dairy ranches in the Boise Valley area. Grace was a member of the Boise Valley Church of the Brethren where she shared her musical talents as its pianist, Sunday school teacher, church treasurer and enjoyed her participation in the Ladies Aid.

In the summer of 1948 the family moved to Crouch where they owned and operated a 245-acre ranch. She was active in church and community affairs, and was a charter member of the Garden Valley PTA and was instrumental in the organization of the school's hot lunch program and a past member of the Syringia Club.

The family returned to Nampa in 1958 where Grace became employed by the Nampa School system. She continued to further her education in teaching. In 1961 she became a member of the Idaho State School and Hospital staff where she taught handicapped children. She retired in 1978.

She was a member of the Nampa Senior Citizens and enjoyed the activities of her crafts, card parties, and often met with friends at the local drug store restaurant to talk over the latest events. "She was a good friend and a devoted mother," her family said.

In October 1996, due to ill health, she moved to Mountain Home where she resided at Cedar Crest Residential Care Center, a facility owned and operated by her daughter. "She appreciated the care and attention she received from the staff, and she enjoyed and loved the many friends she made while there," her family said.

Survivors include: two sons, George Beberness, (Beverly), Council Bluffs, Iowa, and Winfield Kenneth Smith Jr. (Vivian), White Sulpher Springs, Mont.; and four daughters, Charlene Humpherys, Mountain Home; Mary Richman (Lynn) Boise; Patricia Combs, Wimberley, Texas; and Sharon De Lanoy (Darryl), Eagle, 25 grandchildren, 21 great-grand- children and her many close friends.

She was preceded in death by Kenneth, and by her mother, father, two brothers, a sisterin-law, one nephew, and two great-grandsons.

In lieu of flowers a donation may be made to the Boise Valley Church of the Brethren 4721 North Star Rd, Star ID 83669.