Dolores Louisa Smestad

Early Friday morning, November 1, 2013, Dolores peacefully slipped away to be reunited with her soul mate just weeks before her 95th birthday. Her son, Ron and family members, were with her through her transition.

Dolores was born on December 15, 1918 in San Bernardino, California. Before her first birthday, Dolores' family moved to a farmhouse in Scotia, Nebraska. She was the second child born to Vance Jones Sr. and Bertha Brox and, as the first girl, became an integral part of this farming family. Dolores helped by milking cows and goats, feeding chickens, making breakfast and driving the tractor at a very early age. Dolores' sister, Viola (Vi), was born in 1932 during the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl years. She graduated from Scotia High School in 1936, additionally receiving her teaching credentials. From there, she began teaching in a one-room schoolhouse. Dolores enjoyed writing songs and poetry. One song she wrote with her mother entitled, "East Wind" is registered with the Library of Congress.

Dolores taught for 5 years in Nebraska until, on a train trip to California, she met Clifton Ballance. They married on October 1, 1942. Cliff was enlisted in the Navy and shipped out on the U.S.S. Monaghan in 1942. Dolores continued teaching, spending summers in Northern California working in the canneries. In 1943, Dolores moved permanently to California. Tragically, Cliff died at sea on December 18, 1944.

In the spirit of Rosie the Riveter, Dolores worked as a spot-welder producing vacuum tubes for the war effort. In 1946, Dolores met her second husband, Vincent Smestad, at the roller skating rink near Andy's Pet Shop. They married on August 21, 1947 and had three sons, Jerrold, Thomas and Ronald. Being a woman ahead of her time, Dolores continued to work while raising the boys.

Dolores' attention to detail and precision with numbers served her during her career as an auditor for Bergen Brunswig Corporation from 1956 to 1989 when she retired for the first time. She began to work for her sister, Vi, and brother-in-law, Phil, at Investment House in Willow Glen until age 88, when she finally retired.

Dolores loved to drive as this was an extension of her independence and her free spirited nature. To bring her love of driving and music together, Dolores would take her friend, Velma Bernal-Mendoza, dancing in the Bay Area. Her love of road trips fulfilled one of her life's goals to visit every state in the nation. She often took grandchildren, other family members and friends on cross-country trips. However, to visit Alaska, Hawaii, Norway, and Central Europe to hike in the Alps, she was willing to fly.

She was always gracious toward everyone regardless of her own circumstances. One tradition was in remembering each family and friend's birthdays and taking that person to dinner. She also loved eating crab cakes in Carmel because they were not "too spicy" and she always had room for desert. She never failed to lend a hand or make sure that everyone was included in her generosity.

In 2006, Dolores continued with robust health, continuing her passion for driving to visit family and friends across the country to Georgia, Oregon and Texas. This she did until her 94th Birthday when it became necessary for her to live with her son, Ron, and his wife, Linda, where she could be cared for, be visited by family and friends, and taken on long rides with them. During this time, it was a joy for her to hand out U.S. commemorative state quarters to family and friends.

Besides her parents, Dolores was preceded in death by her brother, Vance Jr., and her son, Jerry. She is survived by her two sons Tom (Karen) of Palo Alto and Ron (Linda) of San José, 9 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren, nephew, Greg (Leticia) of San José, one grandniece, and her extended family and friends. She is also survived by her sister, Vi (Phil) Nisonger of San José.

A memorial service will be held at Lima Family Erickson Chapel, 710 Willow Street, San Jose, CA on November 14th, 10:00 am.