August 14, 1926 - August 6, 2024

Born at Wakefield, Nebraska on August 14th to Oscar and Olga (Anderson) Bjorklund. After graduation from Wakefield High School, attended Luther College, Wahoo, NE. Graduated from The University of Nebraska – Lincoln with Bachelor of Science in Home Economics.

She launched the home economics program for McCook Rural Electric Association Power District in McCook, NE. While in McCook, she met KB Smith, a Nebraska Civil Engineer with the State of Nebraska Highway Department – Department of Roads. They were married in Denver CO in November 1951.

To this union were born two children, son and daughter, Kevin and Gretchen.

Sue lived in Lincoln for nearly 50 years, pursuing a career as well as being a wife and mother. For 38 years Sue was the Home Editor of the Nebraska Farmer and Colorado Rancher and Farmer magazines. She was active in profession serving as President and Executive Secretary of what was then the Nebraska Home Economics Association, President of the National Farm Home Editors Association, public relations director for Phi Upsilon Omicron (National Home Economics fraternity) and regional representative for National Home Economists in Business. She was a delegate to the International Federation of Home Economics meeting held at College Park, MD. She also served as province president for her college sorority, Sigma Kappa.

Sue also directed the marketing /promotion and sales of Nebraska wheat products, to include ‘bulgur wheat’ as a higher fiber food ingredient while working within the Wheat Division of The State of Nebraska – Department of Agriculture. Sue operated a home economics consulting business and launched a travel business, Sue Smith Carefree Tours. She served as Public Affairs Officer for the Lincoln Squadron of Civil Air Patrol, a United States Air Force Auxiliary, whose continental US mission is on-call downed aviator Search and Rescue.

After moving to Bella Vista in 1998 she became active in Bella Vista Health Fair activities and joined the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Auxiliary. She is a former member of St Matthews and Holy Trinity Episcopal Churches in Lincoln, and joined the St Andrews Episcopal Parish in Rogers; Bella Vista Republican Women; and President of Chapter CD, PEO.

Her hobbies were travel, bridge and photography. Her travels took her around the world twice and to every continent except Antarctica.

She was preceded in death by her parents Olga and Oscar Bjorklund; her sister Gena and and her husband Clarence Luhr; her daughter Gretchen Smith.

She is survived by her husband, KB Smith, son and daughter-in-law LTC Kevin (Cate) Smith (USA, Retired) ; grandsons Collin, Kiernan and Jack; nieces and nephews and their children/grandchildren.

A memorial service will be 2:00 p.m. Friday, August 16, 2024, at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Rogers, Arkansas.