Susie Lade Smith

Smith, Susie L., 82, of Wichita, Kansas passed away on Saturday, September 9, 2017 in Wichita, Kansas. Sue was born on August 3, 1935 the daughter of Alma Christine (Lade) Edstrom and Arthur Edwin Edstrom. Sue graduated from Endicott High School in Washington, class of 1954. She joined the Navy as a bookkeeper and was stationed in San Diego, California, where she met her future husband, Ronald R. Smith. They married February 15, 1955, and she left the Navy to become a homemaker. They had two children, and their travels during Ron's career took them to Newport, Rhode Island and St. Cloud, Minnesota. The summer of 1969, Ron retired from the Navy and they moved to Cold Spring, Minnesota, where Ron began a second career as the town postmaster. They moved one additional time after he retired a second time, to Wichita, Kansas to be close to their only grandchild, Morgan L. Manlove. Sue was a very skilled homemaker, and she was never happy unless she was busy. She enjoyed baking. Her specialties were cookies, pies and a Smith family traditional game meat pie for Christmas. She was an expert at needlepoint, crewel embroidery, cross stitch, and crocheting. She enjoyed jewelry making, having learned it later in life. She was an accomplished seamstress, and there were few pieces of her clothing that were not customized. She patiently taught her daughter and granddaughter many of these skills as well. She had an eye for color and appreciated well made furniture; she created beautiful home settings. She was an avid gardener, growing flowers, vegetables, and herbs every summer. Her passing was unexpected. She devoted herself to her family and she will leave a void that cannot be filled. She was often more concerned about their welfare than her own. She was preceded in death by her father and mother, Arthur and Alma Edstrom, and her granddaughter, Morgan L. Manlove. Survivors include Ronald R. Smith, husband, Wichita, Kansas; Ramsey R. Smith, son, Superior, Wisconsin; Roshelle and Bill Ford, daughter and son-in-law, Wichita, Kansas; Arvin and Elsa Edstrom, brother and sister-in-law, Fernwood, Idaho, Paul Edstrom, brother, North Fork, Idaho. Memorial services for Sue are pending and will be held at a later date this fall. In lieu of gifts or flowers, a memorial fund in the name of Susie L. Smith has been established for the Butterfly Garden at Botanica, The Wichita Gardens, 701 Amidon St., Wichita, Kansas 67203; 316-264-0448.