NEWTON: Evelyn Vivian (Penner) Smith. 92, of Newton, KS died
Tuesday, June 14 at Comfort Care Homes in Newton.
Evelyn was born July 17, 1929 to John Jacob Penner and
Augusta Evelyn (Schroeder) Penner in Halstead, KS, the oldest of eight
children. She grew up on a farm near Halstead and attended Pleasant Valley
School. After graduating from Newton High School in 1947, she attended a
business school in Omaha, NE, and then moved back to Newton. Soon after she met
LeRoy Smith, and they were married October 8, 1949. They lived briefly in
Wichita, then Newton, and finally moved to a farm near Walton, where they lived
for over 50 years.
Evelyn was a busy mom of five children and also Scott Eckert
worked for a number of years at the Walton Coop and later at Prairie View
Mental Health Center from 1971-1996. She was a life-time member at First
Mennonite Church, Newton where she taught preschool Sunday School, served on
various committees, and was an active member of the women?s sewing/quilting
group. She enjoyed quilting for her family and helped organize the quilt
auction at the annual MCC sale for several years. She and LeRoy loved to travel
and built a cabin in Colorado where they spent many weeks during their
retirement years. After LeRoy?s sudden death in 1999, Evelyn continued to
travel with friends and to visit grandchildren, celebrating graduations,
weddings and other special occasions, making many photo albums of these events.
Survivors include her five children Stan Smith of Kansas
City, MO, Steve Smith (Chris) of Manhattan, KS, Barbara Claassen (Sam) of
Newton, KS, Roger Neufeld Smith (Cynthia) of Topeka, KS, and Dianne Schmidt
(Dennis) of North Newton, KS; 15 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren;
siblings Frank Penner, Lawrence Penner, Lucille Smith, Max Penner.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, two
brothers, Vernon Penner and John Henry Penner, and one sister, Bernice Penner.
Friends may call from 1:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. Sunday, June
19 with family greeting friends from 6-8 pm at Broadway Colonial Funeral Home.
Graveside services and interment will be held at 10:00 A.M.,
Monday, June 20 at Restlawn Gardens of Memory outside of Newton.
Memorial services will follow at 11:00 A.M., Monday, June 20
at the First Mennonite Church in Newton.
Memorials have been established with First Mennonite Church
or the Mennonite Central Committee in care of the funeral home.
Condolences may be left at www.broadwaycolonialfh.com
Arrangements are by Broadway Colonial Funeral Home, Newton,
Ks.
