Betty Smith

Betty Smith, 98, of Council Bluffs, IA and former Carson resident passed away on Sunday, August 2, 2026 at the Country House Residence in Council Bluffs, IA. A Celebration of Life will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, August 14, 2026 at the Loess Hills Funeral Home in Carson. A visitation for family to greet friends will be held prior to the service at the funeral home beginning at 9:30 a.m. Inurnment will be at the Carson Cemetery. Loess Hills Funeral Home in Carson is caring for Betty and her family.

Memorials: Carson American Legion Auxiliary

OBITUARY
Betty Maxine (Elswick) Smith, 98 of Council Bluffs, IA, formerly of Carson, IA, passed away Sunday, August 2, 2026, at the Country House Residence in Council Bluffs.

Betty was born on June 27, 1928, in Omaha, NE, the daughter of Ray Carlos and Ada Altha (Killion) Elswick. She graduated from Carson High School and Graceland College. Betty taught school in Harlan, IA for four years, then joined Blane in California while he served in the Navy where she worked in an oil drilling office. Following Blane’s military service, they moved to a farm west of Oakland, IA, before moving to a farm west of Carson. Betty eventually returned to office work for various insurance companies in the Omaha and Council Bluffs area until her retirement.

Betty and Berton Blane Smith were united in marriage on August 21, 1951, in Hiawatha, KS. Their marriage was blessed with four children, Rebecca, Monte, Tony, and Andrew.

Betty was a member of the Carson UMC, the Carson Legion Auxiliary, and the BHB Club. She enjoyed reading, cooking, working crossword puzzles, word games, and spending time with her friends and family. Her children and grandchildren brought her much joy.

Betty was preceded in death by her parents; Blane, her beloved husband of 58 years in 2009; brother, Harold Elswick and wife Bernie, brother Kenneth Elswick and wife Eloise; daughter-in-law Judith Ann Smith; sister Dorothy Palmer-Swig; brothers-in-law, Allen “Doc” Palmer and Nile Batman; and in-laws, Berton and Marguerite Smith.

Betty is survived by her children, Becky Smith of Council Bluffs, Monte Smith of Pacific Junction, Tony (Vicki Ann) Smith of Council Bluffs, and Andy (Andrea) Smith of Carson; grandchildren, Tyler Smith of Omaha, Zachary Ratashak of Phoenix, AZ, Cassie Smith of Kansas City, MO, Daniel Smith of Omaha and Skye Stein of Knoxville, TN; two great grandsons, Kaleb and Killian; sister-in-law Kathy Batman of IA/FL; nieces and nephews and their families; other relatives and several special friends.