L. Lorraine (Shedenhelm) Martinson Smith 1929-2000

SHEDENHELM, OFFT, MARTINSON, SMITH, PICKETT, SIMMONS

Posted By: Ava Simmons (email)
Date: 2/26/2005 at 17:00:53

Obituary, Cedar Rapids Gazette, September 20, 2000:

"LILLIAN LORRAINE SHEDENHELM MARTINSON SMITH, 71, of Horseshoe Bend, Ark, formerly of Marengo, died suddenly Sept. 16, 2000. Visitation: 4 to 8 P.M. today, Horseshoe Bend Memorial Chapel. Memorial services: Wednesday, First Baptist Church, Horseshoe Bend, with Brother Kenneth Overton officiating. Private burial service: Evening Shadows Cemetery, Horseshoe Bend.

Lorraine is survived by her husband, Milford, Horseshoe Bend; a sister, Shirley Pickett, Houston; four daughters, Ava (Robert Jr.) Simmons, Marengo, Karen K. and Donna Martinson, Marengo, Sharen Martinson, Malibu, Calif.; a son, Harold (Ella Keiser) Martinson Jr., Marengo; two stepsons, Brian (Luane) Smith, Manhattan, Ill, and Dr. Bradford (Sharon) Smith, Ozark, Mo; five grandchildren, Corey and Cody Simmons and Kendra, Ivy and Emily Martinson, Marengo, and several nieces and nephews.

Lorraine was born Aug. 3, 1929, at Mineral Springs Hospital in Marengo. Her parents were Donald Levi and Leona Emma Offt Shedenhelm. She was baptized and confirmed at First Lutheran Church, Hilton Township, Conroy, Iowa, and as a child helped on her parents farm located near the church. She received her elementary and high school education at Hilton Consolidated School in Conroy, where she was a star forward basketball player. She was editor of her senior yearbook and graduated valedictorian of her class. She received her teaching certificate from Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls and taught school in the Aurora and Green Valley country schools in the Marengo area.

On Oct. 15, 1948, she married Harold Martinson (now deceased) in Norway, Iowa, and they made their home most of their married lives in Marengo. While living in Marengo, she was a member of St. Johns Lutheran Church, where she served as a board member, sang in choir, taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School and was a member of the Ladies Evening Circle devotional group. While her children were young, she was also a Brownie and Girl Scout leader. In addition to working at the Big G and Fiser's Pizza, Marengo, and the Landmark Restaurant on I-80, she was a supervisor for 15 years for the mentally and physically handicapped adults at the Iowa County Developmental Center (now REA) in Conroy.

She moved to Salem, Ark, in 1989 and cared for her father until his death in 1991. On June 20, 1992, she married Milford Smith at the Methodist Church in Horseshoe Bend, Ark., where she was a homemaker for the remainder of her life.

She was a member of First Baptist Church in Horseshoe Bend, where she taught Vacation Bible School, an adult Bible study group, The Shepherd's Class, helped with the Hospitality Group and was program chairman of Women on Mission. She was also a member of a weekly women's Bible study group in the community and a faithful participant in the community's monthly Christian Ladies Fellowship gatherings. She was also presiding president of Horseshoe Bend's Illinois Club, her husband's home state.

She was a bridge enthusiast, enjoying bridge clubs in both Marengo and Arkansas. She also enjoyed singing and sang with the Sweet Adelines in Iowa and with the Blenders in Arkansas.

Lorraine was preceded in death by her parents; two grandsons, Todd and Jeffrey Simmons; and a nephew, Todd Pickett.

She was a devoted and loving wife, mother and grandmother and will be greatly missed.

She knew Jesus Christ as her Savior and walked every day of her life with the Lord."