Dixie Smith

Dixie Smith February 26, 1946 - April 26, 2010

Dixie J. Smith, age 64 of Waterville, died on Monday, April 26, 2010 at Methodist Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota. Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, April 30th at 11:00 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Janesville with Rev. Dr. Larry Griffin, Officiate. Memorial visitation will be held on Thursday from 4 to 8 p.m. at Arnoldt- McRaith Funeral Home in Janesville, and will continue on Friday morning for one hour prior to services, at church. Memorials preferred to Cannon Valley Lutheran High School or Trinity Lutheran School. Dixie Jean was born on February 26, 1946 in Spencer, Iowa to Delmer and June (Wells) Shatto. She was baptized and confirmed at First Methodist Church in Emmetsburg, IA. Dixie graduated from Emmetsburg High School in 1964. She was united in marriage to Verlyn L. Smith on February 29, 1964 in Jackson, MN. They moved their family to Lake Crystal in 1974, where she was employed by Bill Webb Insurance. She and Verlyn then moved to Janesville for a short time and in 1996 to their home in Waterville. During this time Dixie worked for Hillcrest Health Care Center in Mankato, and for the last 15 years she was employed by Blue Earth County Human Services as a Clerk Specialist. Dixie was an avid Minnesota Twin''s and Vikings Fan. She loved to collect angels, make crafts, play sudoku and flower gardening. She was a longtime member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Janesville. Dixie especially enjoyed time spent with her family, especially her grandchildren. It was Dixie''s wish to will her body to the University of Minnesota Medical Anatomy Bequest Program. It was her hope to ensure the education of future health science professionals. She is survived by her father Delmer Shatto of Missoula, MT; by her husband Verlyn of Waterville; her son Dennis (Lisa) Smith of Mapleton; by her daughter Dawn Smith of Elysian; by her five grandchildren, Michael Smith, Danielle Smith, Justin Smith, Kelsey Smith and Savannah Larson; by her brothers Ken Shatto of Missoula, MT and Ron (Holly) Shatto of Kalispell, MT; and by her four sisters Kathy(Gale) Haddick of Polson, MT, Susie (Don) Haberkon of Elephant Butte, NM, Monica (Ron) Shatto of Missoula, MT and Karen (Ron) Hines of Wheat Ridge, CO; by many nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her mother June Shatto and her brother Jeff Shatto.