Laurie Ann Smith

Laurie Ann Smith-“Mahpiya Oma Ni Win Yan” (Woman Walks On The Clouds) May 28, 1972-February 27, 2017 Laurie Ann Smith, 44 of the Spirit Lake Nation, died Monday, February 27, 2017 at CHI, St. Alexius, Devils Lake Hospital.  The Wake for Laurie will be held next week, Friday, March 10, 2017 beginning at 5:00 p.m. at the Woodlake Wellness Center, Tokio, ND with a Rosary and Prayer Service at 7:00 p.m.   The procession to Tokio will leave at 4:00 p.m. next Friday from City Plaza.  The Funeral Service for Laurie will be Saturday, March 11th at 10:00 a.m. also at the Woodlake Wellness Center with Father Charles Leute, Father Paul Schuster and Deacon Tony McDonald officiating. Laurie will be laid to rest in St. Michael’s Cemetery at a later date. Laurie was born May 28, 1972 in Devils Lake, ND to Calvin and Violet (Thompson) Smith Sr. She spent her life on the Spirit Lake Nation.  She attended school at Saint Michael Tribal School, Four Winds Community School and graduated from Warwick Public School in 1990.  Laurie attended Little Hoop Community College receiving her Secretarial Degree.  Laurie was employed by the Spirit Lake Tribe in various departments and most recently was employed at the Spirit Lake Casino. Laurie’s most important role in life was mother and grandmother. Her children and grandchildren were her world and she loved them with all her heart. The births of her children were a blessing.  She was a homemaker when her children were babies.  They were her pride and joy.  She watched them grow and mature into adults and parents. She often talked about them and shared their recent pictures with her family.  Laurie was a surrogate Mom to all her nieces and nephews. Always letting them know she was there for them. She was proud of them and she loved them.  She was always willing to babysit.  She always enjoyed her time spent with her nieces and nephews.  Laurie was a great chef and loved cooking homemade meals for her family and friends. Everyone loved her cooking.  She spent her free time volunteering at the food pantry in Tokio where she always had a smile and kind word for everybody.  Laurie’s grandmother taught her how to quilt.  She utilized her skills making Star Quilts for many graduations, funerals and memorials with her Mom, aunties and cousins.  Laurie was kind, caring, thoughtful, polite, friendly and always helping her family and friends any way she could. Her smile and laugh will forever be remembered and her memory cherished by all those who loved her.  “Always loved, never forgotten, forever missed”. Laurie leaves behind her family: parents Calvin and Violet Smith Sr., Tokio, ND; children Tori Jean Longie, Devils Lake, Savannah (Calvin) Longie, Williston, ND and Dalton Beau Longie, Fargo, ND; grandchildren Ella and Amelia Clark, Williston and Sullen Longie, Fargo; brothers Vance Thompson Sr., Aaron (Carrie) Thompson Sr., Adrian (Stephanie) Thompson, Waylon (Michelle) Smith, Lonnie (Kenda) Smith and Calvin “Bud” Smith Jr.; sisters her twin Laura “Doda” Smith, Amanda (Roger) Smith and Candice Smith; adopted mother Corrine Brown; adopted sisters Mary “Mini” Cavanaugh and Cora Whiteman; grandmothers Elizabeth Lawrence and Pauline Greywater; aunts Josephine Smith, Geraldine Redfox, Viola Thompson, Ella Lafrombois, Sharon Georgeson, Hilda Garcia, Elizabeth Redfox, Alberta Redfox, Dianne Jackson and Sheila Thompson; uncles David Smith, Roger Brown, Duane Jackson Sr. and Aloysius Cloud; godmother and aunt Yvonne Thompson; godchildren Chelsea Lynn Longie and Mariah Redfox. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her paternal grandparents Simon and Sarah Smith; maternal grandparents Mary Jackson and John Thompson; godfather Elmer White Sr. and many, many aunts, uncles and cousins. Active Pallbearers: Russell Brown, Jason LaRock, David Redfox, Gabriel Smith, Jason Thompson and Darwin Brown. Honorary Pallbearers: Amy (Tony) Brown and family, Holly Brown and family, Rochelle Guy, Eldwin Guy, Star (Sam) Hunt and family, Lavonne Feather and family, Taneisha (Matt) Smith, Carrie Ann (Kelly) Smith and family, Alfred “Jess” Jackson and Chrystal Leftbear and family, Lonna and Richard Street, Darcie and Corey Delorme, Karen Jackson, Duane Jackson Jr., Leola Thompson and family, Alvina Thompson and family, Lois and Louie Chaske, Mariam (Manuel) Vega and family, Monty (Jackie) Redfox and family, Joel Redfox and family, Archie Redfox Jr., Herbert Hunt, Jolleen Small, Rolland and Julie Johnson, Daniel Redroad, Kara Longie and family, Bonnie Leftbear and family, Mary Thompson, Bonita Morin, Myra Hunt, Debbie Little, Arlene Demarce, Kristy and Johnnie Gaking, Adrian Frederick, Yvonne and Louis Dubois, all the Jackson families, all the Yankton families and the Warwick Graduating Class of 1990. If we forgot anyone at this difficult time it was not intentional.  Music will be provided by the Rhythm Riders, Loretta Stensland and Paula Deckert, Bishop Cole and Gospel Outreach Ministries, Tony and Vina McDonald, Kris White and all other Drum Groups are welcome to share their music in memory of Laurie. Laurie is in the care of the Gilbertson Funeral Home