Leona Victoria Smith, 96, a resident of the Forest Grove community passed away on Saturday morning, February 13, 2016 at the adult foster care home.

A Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, February 17, 2016 at Visitation Catholic Church; 4285 NW Visitation Rd in Verboort.

A reception will follow at the parish center.

Leona was born on June 7, 1919 in Altha, ND. She was one of seven children born to George and Agnes (Gamroth) Hess. She moved with her family to Oregon when she was 16 years old and attended Banks High School graduating with the Class of 1937.

Leona met her future husband, Ervin Smith, on a blind date, they soon began dating and were married on July 2, 1940 at St. Francis Catholic Church in Roy, OR. They made their home on the Smith family farm in Forest Grove. Ervin passed away in 
May of 2004 and Leona, shortly after his death moved into the city of Forest Grove. These past five years she has been cared for by Silver Cloud Adult Foster Care Home in Forest Grove.

Leona was a loving and devoted mother to her five children, Jackie, Mary, Donna, Terry and Linda. She also worked outside the home at Miller's Hardware (Ace Hardware) in Forest Grove for over 20 years. She enjoyed sewing, crocheting and knitting. She was also an avid gardener, enjoyed time spent with her family . She volunteered at her church Visitation Catholic Church Parish where she either sang in the choir or helped a with the altar society.

She is preceded in death by her loving husband; Ervin, two daughters; Donna Reichow, Mary Perkins, and all six of her siblings; Archie and Scott Hess, Bridget Krieger, Elenore Lunder, Johanna Feazle, Eugenia Sohler

Survivors include three children and their spouses; Jackie and Laurence Peters of Forest Grove, Terry and Donna Smith of Forest Grove, Linda and Mel Vanderzanden of Banks, two sons-in-law; Perry Perkins of Dallas, OR, Bill Reichow of Hillsboro, many foster children twenty grandchildren, numerous great grandchildren and numerous great great grandchildren.

The family suggest donations in Leona's name to Visitation School Building Fund