Lewise W. Smallfoot, 90, of Gibbon, formerly of Farnam, died Monday, Nov. 18, 2013, at the Grand Island Veteran’s Home.

Memorial services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Faith United Church in Gibbon with the Rev. Cathy Cole officiating. Graveside services will be at 2:30 p.m. Friday at Fort McPherson National Cemetery near Maxwell.

The body was cremated. Berryman Funeral Home in Cozad is in charge of arrangements.

She was born Jan. 20, 1923, in Ingham to Ira and Ella (Adkisson) Wear.

On July 18, 1946, she married Alvin F. Smallfoot in Oberlin, Kan. He preceded her in death.

Survivors include her sons and daughters-in-law, Kevin and Brenda of Danville, Ind., Gaylord and Kathy of Eustis and Marc and Marlyn of Lincoln; daughter, Christie Lind and her husband, Mark, of Gurley; 21 grandchildren; 38 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews who include Marvin Halley and his wife, Bev, of Farnam and Irene Hilker and her husband, Bill, of Axtell; and other relatives and friends.

The family moved to Farnam, and she attended Farnam Public School and graduated in 1940. She took normal classes and started teaching the next fall. She received a teaching certificate from Kearney State Teachers College and taught in several Eustis- and Farnam-area schools. In the summers, she worked for area farmers hauling grain.

Lewise and Alvin lived in Farnam, and she taught until they began their family. She worked part time at the Farnam Library, Montgomery Store and at Smallfoot Plumbing and Electric. They moved to Gibbon in 1968. Lewise worked for Unimart in Kearney, became the head bookkeeper and worked there until her retirement.

She was a faithful member of the Farnam United Methodist Church and the Gibbon Faith United Church. She was active in Rebecca Lodge and the Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliaries. Her family was always a top priority.

She was an amazing seamstress and made clothes for the whole family. Lewise was also a great cook and everyone enjoyed sharing a meal in her home. She painted ceramics and made keepsakes for her family. This continued when she moved to the Grand Island Veterans Home.

One of her fond memories was serving at the Canteen in North Platte during World War II. Lewise and her cousin, Edna, would take cake and sandwiches on the train ride from Gothenburg to North Platte. She would mention you always needed an extra cake in case it was a soldier’s birthday. They danced with the soldiers and served delicious food to encourage them during their service.

In addition to her husband of 61 years, she was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Carl, Alfred and Arthur; and sisters, Delilah, Marie and Lucette.

Kearney Hub, 20 Nov 2013