Colleen Smith, 98, of Columbus, Nebraska, died Tuesday, March 26, 2024 at Butler County Health Care Center in David City, Nebraska.

The funeral service will be held at 10:00 AM on Saturday, March 30, at Gass Haney Funeral Home with Pastor Dan Jackson officiating. Visitation will be on Saturday, from 9:00 AM until service time, also at the funeral home. Interment will be at 2:30 PM on Saturday in Evergreen Cemetery in Superior, Nebraska. The funeral service will be broadcast live on the Gass Haney Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057043736890

Colleen Joan (Thomas) Smith was born on July 4, 1925, to Harold and Beulah (Ramseier) Thomas in Superior, NE. She attended Superior High School and graduated in 1943. She married Elvan "Smittie" Smith on March 10, 1944. They married during Elvan's short leave from the Army before he headed overseas for combat. Elvan and Colleen had three children, Sherrie, Patricia, and Thomas.

During WW II, while Smittie was away at war, Colleen lived in California where she worked for the Douglas Aircraft Company to do her part in the war effort. After the war, Colleen enjoyed being a wife, mother, and homemaker. Colleen started her own ceramics business called C&S Ceramics in 1974. For 20 years, she held ceramics classes in her home, went to many craft shows, and shared her talent with family and friends through numerous gifts.

Colleen loved flowers and gardening. Every spring, she would bring home several plants and flowers to decorate her patio. She also loved making food and taking care of her family. No one would ever go hungry when visiting grandma's house.

Colleen is survived by her sister Donna Anderson of Lincoln, Nebraska, sister Linda (Danny) Jackson of Superior, Nebraska, daughter Sherrie Parker of Hutchinson, Kansas, and daughter Patricia Sunday of David City, Nebraska, eight grandchildren, 19 great grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild.

Colleen was preceded in death by her husband Elvan, parents Harold and Beulah, brother-in-law Jack Anderson, son Thomas, daughter-in-law Cheryl Smith, son-in-law Bob Parker, and son-in-law Steve Sunday.