She was born on Jan. 18, 1957, at Mount Pleasant, Pa., to A. Harrison and Eleanor M. (Overly) Smith. She grew up in several communities in Pennsylvania before she moved in 1968 to Garden City, where she attended school and graduated from Garden City High School.
She worked as a secretary for a construction company in Garden City before moving to Parsons in 1993. She worked in several places in Parsons and was currently employed at USD 503. She was also co-owner of the Tire Doctor in Parsons.
She was a faithful member of the Church of the Brethren in Parsons where her brother, the Rev. Tom Smith, serves as pastor. She enjoyed playing the piano, gardening, puzzles and, most of all, her grandchildren.
She married Jerry Bontrager at Garden City. They later divorced. She married Terry Dessenberger on Sept. 14, 2001, at Miami, Okla. He survives of the home.
In addition to her husband she is survived by two daughters, Nicole Strickland and her husband, Bill, of Parsons and Brook Bontrager and her companion, John Horton, of Parsons; seven grandchildren, Ky Bontrager-Harris, Derek Horton, Tommy Horton, Trey Horton, Emya Horton, Ellie Horton, Ingram Dessenberger; several great-grandchildren; her father, the Rev. Harrison Smith of Farmington, Pa.; two brothers, Pastor Tom Smith and his wife, Jerrie, of Parsons and Pastor Ron Smith and his wife, Irela, of Farmington, Pa.
She was preceded in death by her mother.
The service will be at 10:30 a.m. today at Carson-Wall Funeral Home with her brother, Pastor Tom Smith, officiating. Burial will follow in Memorial Lawn Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the Church of the Brethren of Parsons or to USD 503 Music Department and these may be left at or mailed to the funeral home, 112 N. 26th, P.O. Box 942, Parsons, 67357.
Online condolences may be left at www.wallfuneral services.com.
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