Erna A. Gutzmer "Erna Bee" Smith died Friday evening, Nov. 26, 2010, in a local care facility.
She was born on a homestead Aug. 30, 1918, in Ziebach County, S.D., the sixth of eight children to Otto A. and Babette (Spillman) Gutzmer. She was raised Lutheran and had a strong faith in God.
In 1934, she married Alfred Braun and they had two beautiful children; he preceded her in death.
Erna was a fabulous musician. She played the piano and organ and taught herself to play her granddaughter's violin. Erna played for a living at various supper clubs, lounges, parties, hotels as well as countless weddings and funerals. She was a life member of the Professional Musicians Union out of Missoula. She later went to school and became a dental assistant. Erna worked in Huron, S.D., and Kalispell, before moving to Sioux Falls, S.D., where she again started playing for supper clubs and other clubs.
It was then in North Dakota that she met Vernon Smith. They married in 1983 and together they lived in Mohall, N.D.
Besides her first husband, Alfred Braun, Erna was also preceded in death by her husband, Vernon Smith, who died in 2005; her daughter-in-law, Marlys Braun; and Vernon's son, Daryl Smith.
Survivors include her daughter and son-in-law of Opportunity, son and daughter-in-law of Hayden Lake, Idaho, and five grandchildren. Also surviving are nine great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren. Other survivors include Vernon's sons and their families.
Complete obituary published Montana Standard Nov 30, 2010
She was born on a homestead Aug. 30, 1918, in Ziebach County, S.D., the sixth of eight children to Otto A. and Babette (Spillman) Gutzmer. She was raised Lutheran and had a strong faith in God.
In 1934, she married Alfred Braun and they had two beautiful children; he preceded her in death.
Erna was a fabulous musician. She played the piano and organ and taught herself to play her granddaughter's violin. Erna played for a living at various supper clubs, lounges, parties, hotels as well as countless weddings and funerals. She was a life member of the Professional Musicians Union out of Missoula. She later went to school and became a dental assistant. Erna worked in Huron, S.D., and Kalispell, before moving to Sioux Falls, S.D., where she again started playing for supper clubs and other clubs.
It was then in North Dakota that she met Vernon Smith. They married in 1983 and together they lived in Mohall, N.D.
Besides her first husband, Alfred Braun, Erna was also preceded in death by her husband, Vernon Smith, who died in 2005; her daughter-in-law, Marlys Braun; and Vernon's son, Daryl Smith.
Survivors include her daughter and son-in-law of Opportunity, son and daughter-in-law of Hayden Lake, Idaho, and five grandchildren. Also surviving are nine great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren. Other survivors include Vernon's sons and their families.
Complete obituary published Montana Standard Nov 30, 2010
Erna A. Gutzmer "Erna Bee" Smith died Friday evening, Nov. 26, 2010, in a local care facility.
She was born on a homestead Aug. 30, 1918, in Ziebach County, S.D., the sixth of eight children to Otto A. and Babette (Spillman) Gutzmer. She was raised Lutheran and had a strong faith in God.
In 1934, she married Alfred Braun and they had two beautiful children; he preceded her in death.
Erna was a fabulous musician. She played the piano and organ and taught herself to play her granddaughter's violin. Erna played for a living at various supper clubs, lounges, parties, hotels as well as countless weddings and funerals. She was a life member of the Professional Musicians Union out of Missoula. She later went to school and became a dental assistant. Erna worked in Huron, S.D., and Kalispell, before moving to Sioux Falls, S.D., where she again started playing for supper clubs and other clubs.
It was then in North Dakota that she met Vernon Smith. They married in 1983 and together they lived in Mohall, N.D.
Besides her first husband, Alfred Braun, Erna was also preceded in death by her husband, Vernon Smith, who died in 2005; her daughter-in-law, Marlys Braun; and Vernon's son, Daryl Smith.
Survivors include her daughter and son-in-law of Opportunity, son and daughter-in-law of Hayden Lake, Idaho, and five grandchildren. Also surviving are nine great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren. Other survivors include Vernon's sons and their families.
Complete obituary published Montana Standard Nov 30, 2010
She was born on a homestead Aug. 30, 1918, in Ziebach County, S.D., the sixth of eight children to Otto A. and Babette (Spillman) Gutzmer. She was raised Lutheran and had a strong faith in God.
In 1934, she married Alfred Braun and they had two beautiful children; he preceded her in death.
Erna was a fabulous musician. She played the piano and organ and taught herself to play her granddaughter's violin. Erna played for a living at various supper clubs, lounges, parties, hotels as well as countless weddings and funerals. She was a life member of the Professional Musicians Union out of Missoula. She later went to school and became a dental assistant. Erna worked in Huron, S.D., and Kalispell, before moving to Sioux Falls, S.D., where she again started playing for supper clubs and other clubs.
It was then in North Dakota that she met Vernon Smith. They married in 1983 and together they lived in Mohall, N.D.
Besides her first husband, Alfred Braun, Erna was also preceded in death by her husband, Vernon Smith, who died in 2005; her daughter-in-law, Marlys Braun; and Vernon's son, Daryl Smith.
Survivors include her daughter and son-in-law of Opportunity, son and daughter-in-law of Hayden Lake, Idaho, and five grandchildren. Also surviving are nine great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren. Other survivors include Vernon's sons and their families.
Complete obituary published Montana Standard Nov 30, 2010
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