Lois A. Smith

Lois A. Smith, 76, of Creston, died Monday, March 17, 2025, at Bergen Mercy Hospital in Omaha, Nebraska. Celebration of Life Services will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, March 28, at Powers Funeral Home in Creston. Pastor Mary O’Riley will officiate. Burial will be private at a later date. Open visitation will be 2-7 p.m., with family receiving friends from 5-7 p.m.,Thursday, March 27, at Powers Funeral Home in Creston.

Memorials are to be directed to the Nebraska Chapter of the Hemophilia Foundation at https://ne.bleeding.org/get-involved/give-today.html. Online condolences may be given at www.powersfh.com.

Lois A. (Johnson) Smith was born Aug. 9, 1948, in Council Bluffs. She spent her childhood with her mother, Eva Viola (Long) Johnson, and her three (often ornery) brothers in Oakland. She graduated from Oakland High School in 1966, and later the University of Iowa in 1970.

After college, she lived briefly in Omaha, before moving to Washington, D.C., where she married Don Gary Smith on Aug. 7, 1971. She passed her CPA exam (on her first try, as she would point out) and worked as the first woman accountant at a large firm there. In 1977, they moved to Mobile, Alabama, for Don’s work. Lois continued working as an accountant before they moved to Creston a year later to run Smith Concrete.

Lois worked for the city of Creston for a short time and as a business manager at Crossroads Mental Health for several years. Don and Lois purchased Lasting Memories in Creston and moved it to the old J.C. Penney’s building in the late 1990s. Lois enjoyed photographing families, weddings and events. They renovated the upstairs to include apartments, which they ran until Lois sold the building in 2021.

Lois enjoyed chasing and photographing hot air balloons. For several years they sponsored a balloon during Creston Balloon Days, first through Smith Concrete and then later with friends Bill and Darla Shallenberger through S&S Enterprises.

She was a longtime, active member of the American Legion Auxiliary. She enjoyed camping and fishing when the kids were young and golfing through most of her adulthood. She always loved a good card game or word puzzle.

Survivors include her daughter Sam (Justin) Clinkinbeard of Omaha; son Russ (Leanne) Smith of Indianola; five grandchildren: Addie Smith, Eva Smith and Graham Smith of Indianola and Oliver Clinkinbeard and Jojo Clinkinbeard, both of Omaha; her brothers, Jim Johnson of Council Bluffs and Dick (Cheryl) Johnson of Lincoln, Nebraska.

She was preceded in death by her mother; husband Don Smith and one brother, Chuck Johnson.