Obituary of Anita L. Smith

Anita L. Smith, aged 101, died peacefully with family at her side at United Hospital, St.Paul, MN on Friday, March 1 2024. With joy, she joins her beloved Bill in the glory of eternal life. 

Anita was born on September 6, 1922 in Heron Lake, MN. She was the daughter of Ruby (Jacobs) Lundahl and Arthur Lundahl who was an award-winning buttermaker for Land O'Lakes in their hometown.  After graduating from high school, Anita attended Minneapolis Business School in 1940. She graduated and worked at a bank in downtown Minneapolis, which also helped to support her parents, Ruby and Arthur, back home in Heron Lake. 

Anita married her high school sweetheart Bill after the war in 1946. She was a homemaker and an active member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in south Minneapolis where her beloved husband was a pastor for 15 years. Later she worked part-time as a secretary at Luther Seminary and she and Bill joined University Lutheran Church of Hope in 1972, where they and their children and grandchildren attended for many years.

Anita loved to read, and she especially enjoyed the music of the 30's, 40's and 50's, but her favorite and greatest source of inspiration was people. She loved and accepted people from all walks of life and celebrated their uniqueness, which brought her joy.  Anita loved her family fiercely, took delight in her grandchildren and prayed for them daily. She prayed for hundreds of others every day until she could no longer see her prayer list. She cherished her faith and her many visitors from University Lutheran Church of Hope over the past several years. 

Anita was preceded in death by her beloved husband Bill, her parents, Art and Ruby, brother Wilbur Lundahl (d.1942, WWII) and many friends. Anita is survived by her children, Brice Eichlersmith (Jann) of Minneapolis, Elyse Moynihan (Kevin) of Eden Prairie, Bret Smith of Richfield, and Lette Rogers (Warren) of Marion, Indiana. She is also survived by her 7 grandchildren; Erin Moynihan,  Martha and Tom Eichlersmith, Molly Rose, Will, and Andy Gamble and Jake JohnsonSmith, all of the Minneapolis-St. Paul area.  A service will held for Anita on April 27, 1:30 pm at University Lutheran Church of Hope, Minneapolis, MN with a private interment to follow. 

Memorials preferred to Luther Seminary, St Paul MN; University Lutheran Church of Hope, Minneapolis, Mn; and N.C. Little Hospice, Minneapolis, MN.