Valetha LaVerne Steinberg Smith

Val was born in Omaha, Nebraska on March 30, 1929 to a Missouri Synod Lutheran pastor and his wife, Erwin and Dora Feyerherm. Val lived in Omaha and Schuyler where she graduated from high school in 1946. She attended Concordia Teachers College in Seward, Nebraska and obtained her teaching certificate. She taught Lutheran elementary school in Clyman, Wisconsin for one year and at Grace Lutheran School in Denver, Colorado from 1949 through at least 1956.

At each school she taught multiple grade levels in one room.

It was at Grace Lutheran Church where she met her future husband, Raymond Steinberg. Val and Ray were married in North Bend, Nebraska on July 20, 1952 by her father, Reverend Erwin Feyerherm. Val and Ray lived in Denver, Colorado after their marriage and then moved to Broomfield, Colorado, in 1956 where her first two children, Lynnette and Debby were born. The family moved to Boulder, Colorado and then Idaho Falls, Idaho where Val’s youngest daughter, also named Valetha, was born.

Ray was diagnosed with cancer in the early 1970’s and died in 1974. After Ray’s death, Val moved her family to Wheat Ridge, Colorado to be near her sister Lucille and her parents who had retired to Longmont, Colorado. Val worked at Lutheran High School as the school secretary from 1974 until she retired in 1997. Many former students and faculty of Lutheran High School still remember Val as “the lady in the white house”, the school office.

Val remained a widow until May 2, 2004 when she married Norman Smith. They moved to Maytown, PA following their marriage. Norman died from surgery complications June 30 that same year. Val returned to her home in Colorado.

During her life she played the organ and directed the choir at many Lutheran churches, including Wheat Ridge Lutheran Church since 1974 until recently when her health began to deteriorate.

Val loved her family, which includes three children, four grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, her sister and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and other relatives. Val participed in many church activities including directing the choir, playing the organ, helping with the LWML, participating in bible studies, and volunteering for the Good Shepherd Auxiliary. She also enjoyed gardening, her cats, music and butterflies.

Val was a strong woman dedicated to God and her family. She will be greatly missed.

On November 3, 2012 Valetha passed away in Wheat Ridge, Colorado. Valetha is survived by her loving family; daughters Lynnette &(Lynn) Newman, Debby Jean, and Val &(Carl) Gehm, grand-daughters Toya &(Jake, Sr.) Mendoza, Heather Gehm, and Laura Gehm, grandson Aaron Gehm, great grand-daughters Keilie Mendoza, and Alicia Mendoza, great grandson Jake Mendoza, Jr., sister Lucille Fredericksen. Valetha was preceded in death by her first husband, Raymond T. Steinberg who passed away in 1974, and her second husband Norman Smith, parents Erwin and Dora Feyerherm.

Visitation Thursday, November 8, 2012, 2pm to 6pm at Olinger Crown Hill Mortuary. Graveside services will be held on Friday, November 9, 2012, 9am at Olinger Highland Mortuary & Cemetery, 10201 N. Grant St., Thornton, Colorado, 80229. A Memorial Service will be held the same day at 11am, at Wheat Ridge Lutheran Church, 8600 W. 38th Ave., Wheat Ridge, Colorado.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Valetha's name to the Good Shepherd Auxillary or Wheat Lutheran Church. Either may be sent to 8600 W. 38th Ave., Wheat Ridge, CO 80033.