Lora Anna Smith Mentzer, 82, died Thursday, March 3, 2011, at Waterford At All Saints in Sioux Falls, S.D.
Lora was born August 8, 1928, to Otto and Margaret (Wesenberg) Koepsell at Canova, S.D. She grew up on a farm near Canova. She attended Wartburg College in Waverly, IA and received a two-year teaching degree. Lora married Russell E. J. Smith April 24, 1954, at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Canova. Russ was a J.C. Penney store manager and worked and managed stores in Waverly, IA; Milwaukee, WI; Winner, S.D.; Champaign, IL; Watertown, S.D.; Aberdeen, S.D.; and Bismarck, N.D. After Russ retired in 1988, Lora and Russ moved to Grand Marais and lived on Devil Track Lake. Russ died April 21, 1994.
Lora married ET Mentzer May 23, 1999. They divided their time between Grand Marais, Newton, IA and Palm Desert, CA. Lora moved to Sioux Falls to the Memory Care Unit at Waterford At All Saints in 2009.
Lora was involved in PEO, the women’s groups of the Lutheran Churches she attended, Lions Club, and many community groups in each town in which she lived. Her family was very important to her. She also enjoyed gardening, bird watching, golfing, and traveling.
Grateful for sharing her life are her daughter Margaret (John) Devick of Canton, S.D.; sons David Smith of St. Louis, MO, and Jim (Louise) Smith of St. Louis, MO; sister, Linda (Jack) Wulff of Chula Vista, CA; brothers, Delmar (Martha) Koepsell of Salem, S.D., and Ralph (Shirley) Koepsell of Edina, MN; grandchildren, Tonya Smith of Fayetteville, AR, Jenny (Dennis) Wilson of Springdale, AR, Alicia Smith of St. Charles, MO, Kari (Jason) Elrod of Canton, and Christopher Devick of Milford, PA; five great-grandchildren; and her husband, ET (Tye) Mentzer.
Funeral services were held Thursday, March 10 at Canton Lutheran Church, Canton, S.D.
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