Janet Kathleen Smith

Janet, 84 years of age, died on Sunday, July 4, 2021, at her home in Cedar Crest, New Mexico. She was born on September 13, 1936, in Bertrand, Nebraska, the daughter of Leslie and Elvera (Erickson) Dahlgren.

Janet’s family moved to Holdrege, Nebraska in 1945 after previously residing in the communities of Loup City and Alma, Nebraska. She graduated from Holdrege High School with the class of 1954. Following her graduation from Holdrege High School, she attended Colorado Women’s College in Denver. On September 10, 1955, she was united in marriage to Larry Eugene Miller, her high school sweetheart, and from this marriage four children were born: Scott, Jeffery, Julie, and Shari. The family lived in Holdrege before relocating to Omaha in 1968. In addition to caring for her family, she attended the Nancy Bounds School of Modeling. She continued modeling while working at Virgie’s Town & Country Boutique.  While working at Virgie’s, she was recruited by the dentist next door, Dr. Donald Sattem to be his dental assistant.  Later she would return to her true calling; modeling women’s apparel and accessories, when she became the Fashion Coordinator at Sears Crossroads.  She ended her career after being recruited once more to be the Executive Secretary to the store manager at Sears.  She was a woman of many talents.

After Larry’s death in February of 1993, Janet married Ronald R. Smith of Albuquerque, New Mexico in 1998. Jan and Ron lived in Cedar Crest, New Mexico until the time of her passing. She enjoyed traveling with Ron and on occasion with good friends to a variety of cities and countries around the globe. Jan loved all sports but she and Ron passionately followed Husker football as members of New Mexicans for Nebraska.  She was fun loving and the life of the party.

Jan was preceded in death by her parents, Leslie and Elvera, first husband Larry, her brother, Wayne, and her sister Linda Hammond. She is survived by her husband Ron, children: Scott (Deb) Miller of Aurora, Nebraska, Jeff Miller of Omaha, Julie (Steve) Cahoy of Omaha and Shari (Kevin) Munro of Omaha; five grandchildren: Keri Christensen (Seth) of Omaha, Kurt Miller (Elizabeth) of Omaha, Nicole Zuccarini of Peoria, Illinois, Matthew Munro of Omaha, and Connor Munro of Omaha; and: three great-grandchildren: Jackson, Schylar, and Riley Christensen all of Omaha; nephews: Dan Hammond of Omaha and Brent Hammond of Oxford, Nebraska; along with several cousins and friends.

Funeral Services for Janet Kathleen (Miller) Smith will be held on Monday, July 12, 2021 at Heafey Hoffmann Dworak Cutler Mortuaries in Omaha, Nebraska, at 11:00 a.m. with the visitation preceding the service at 10:00 a.m. To view a live broadcast of the Funeral Service, please go to www.heafeyheafey.com and click on the “View Live Cast” button on the home page.

Memorials to Assistance League of Albuquerque where Jan volunteered throughout her time in New Mexico.