Verna Leora (Brax) Smith, 96, of Salina, passed away Friday June 30, 2023. Verna was born September 20, 1926, in Salina, KS. She was the second of four children born to Pete (Per) Einar Brax and Clara Victoria (Lindholm) Brax.  Verna enjoyed her childhood on the family farm near Smolan, KS, growing up in the Swedish community, and was baptized and confirmed at Salemsborg Lutheran. She had her own pony, which she rode to do her assigned farm chores, such as herding cattle. When she was 16, the US government took over their family farm to build the Army’s Camp Phillips and the Brax family had to move, finally resettling to a farm south of Abilene, KS. At Abilene High  School, where she graduated, she met her life love Charles O. Smith, Jr. During WWII, Verna worked in the airline industry, communicating with planes through teletype. She was based in Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York. After Charles returned from WWII, they married on Sept. 21, 1947.

Verna and Charles lived their 72 years of married life in Salina, where Verna worked at different times over the years for Swift, Salina schools, and Mowery Clinic. She was a long-time member of Immanuel Lutheran in Salina,  where she was very active in her faith, through service, teaching, and learning. Verna was very caring and compassionate, and involved in many community groups for promotion of music, education and service, and was even active in square dancing in her earlier years. She was well loved and respected by so many. She happily lived her last three and a half years at Bethany Home in Lindsborg, where she blossomed with all her activities and community. Until the end, Verna was a symbol of strength for her family. Verna and Charles had four children, Kristin, Dana, Cheryl and Sonja, and she was always proud and supportive of all of them, their families, and their paths in life. She deeply loved her family and encouraged their activities, lessons, accomplishments and celebrations.

Verna is survived by her sisters-in-law Shirley Thornton and Jan Brax; childen Kristin & Stephen Graue of Louisburg, Dana & Karen Smith of Benton, Cheryl Smith & Hubert Feuerborn of Overland Park, Sonja & Mark Burris of Ruston, LA; grandchildren Katrin & Ben Hendricks, Ann & Chad Richardson, Zack & Frostie Graue, Hayley & Ryan Hancock; great grandchildren Emery and Carson Hendricks, Ashley and Amber Graue, Alex and Henry Hancock, and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. We love her and miss her.

Verna was preceded in death by her husband Charles O. Smith, Jr., her infant sister Evelyn Victoria Brax, her brother Darrel Gene Brax, and her sister Mary Ann Rodie.

Visitation will be 10-11 a.m. Wednesday July 12, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Salina, funeral service following at ll am in the church. Afterward, lunch fellowship for all, in the church basement. Graveside service and burial at 1:30 pm in Salemsborg Lutheran Church Cemetery, Smolan.

Memorials may be given to Bethany Home Association or Immanuel Lutheran Church in care of Ryan Mortuary, 137 N. 8th Street, Salina, KS 67401.