La Verne Charles Smith was born May 5, 1929, near Oconto in Custer County, Nebraska, the son of Donald William and Veva Doris (Headley) Smith. He attended country schools in Custer County and graduated as valedictorian of Arnold High School in 1947.
After farming with his father for several years, La Verne enlisted in the United States Navy. He was sworn in on September 7, 1950, in Omaha and completed basic training at the Great Lakes Training Center. He was later stationed at Anacostia Air Station near Washington, D.C., attended electronics school in Memphis, Tennessee, returned to Patuxent River Naval Air Station in Maryland, and was eventually stationed at Port Lyautey in French Morocco. While overseas, he served aboard the aircraft carriers Randolph, FDR, and Bennington. He was honorably discharged on July 2, 1954.
La Verne attended the University of Nebraska–Lincoln for one year and began working for AT&T in Omaha in 1955. He retired after 35 years of service on July 1, 1990.
On March 12, 1960, La Verne was united in marriage with Joyce Marilyn Mortensen at Elk Horn Lutheran Church. They made their home in Elk Horn, where they lived throughout their marriage and raised their three children: Carol Lynette, Craig Allan, and Kevin Eugene. He was a devoted member of Elk Horn Lutheran Church since 1960.
La Verne was known for his mechanical skill and completed many electrical and electronic projects in Elk Horn and Kimballton. He enjoyed restoring John Deere garden tractors, woodworking, reading, and watching old western movies. He and Joyce loved traveling and visited 45 states, spending 19 winters in southern Texas and taking several tours to Mexico. In 2011 they toured Washington, D.C., and in 2012 traveled to Alaska, returning by ship and enjoying its wildlife and scenery.
La Verne’s health declined, and he became a resident of Salem Lutheran Home in Elk Horn, where he passed away on Thursday, January 8, 2026, at the age of 96 years, 8 months, and 3 days. He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters Eula Adams and Marian Carlson; brothers-in-law Robert Guge, Robert Adams, Donald Carlson, and Ray Esbeck; sister-in-law Julie Mortensen; and parents-in-law Alvin, Lydia, and Erna Mortensen.
He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Joyce Smith of Elk Horn; children Carol (Dave) Danner of Dedham, Craig (Dani McDaniel) Smith of Walnut, and Kevin (Sheri) Smith of Neola; grandchildren Kalee (Jason) Vonnahme, Kelsi (Ben) Wirzbach, Karly (Caleb) Chmelka, and Kaleb Smith; great-grandchildren Hannah, Hadleigh, and Haylin Vonnahme, and Jackson and Millie Wirzbach; step-grandson Adam (Zenaida) Huey; step-great-grandchildren Birdie and Zoey Huey; sister Norma Guge of Kearney, NE; sister-in-law Shirley Esbeck of Elk Horn; brother-in-law Lynn Mortensen of Kimballton; many nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.
Visitation with the family will be held on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Ohde Funeral Home in Kimballton. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. at Elk Horn Lutheran Church in Elk Horn, with visitation one hour prior from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. Military honors will follow in the Elk Horn Lutheran Cemetery.
