of Mountain Home, AR
January 15, 1945 - March 20, 2025
Mrs. Patricia Marie Smith of Mountain Home, Arkansas began her life's journey on January 15, 1945, when she was born to Alton M. and Elda Sanstad at St. Mary's Hospital in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, and ended on March 20, 2025.
On March 4, 1945, Patricia was baptized into the Lutheran Faith at Park Luther Church in Clay County, Minnesota. In 1963, she graduated from North Chicago Community High School in North Chicago, Illinois. Shortly after graduation, she began working at Nauta Insurance and Real Estate Co. in Waukegan, Illinois. She worked there for 30+ years as an insurance producer, notary public, and researched real estate appraisals.
Patricia married the love of her life, William ''Bill'' K. Smith on November 2, 1996, when he became old enough to get his ''old people's money,'' namely Social Security. He told her he wanted to move to Florida or Arizona, but she gave him the look that many a wife has done and said, ''Fine you move, send me money, and pictures because I am not going to either of those states.'' Since they had been to Mountain Home a couple of times to see her sister, Connie (A.T.) Preder, they finally decided to load up the truck and head out to the Ozarks, namely Mountain Home.
After arriving in late 2000 (and 4 years of painting, planting, etc.), Patricia decided she wanted to go back to work but only part-time. She was fortunate enough to start working at the Mountain Home Moose Lodge #1953 as a bookkeeper which lasted 15+ years. She was also a member of The Women of the Moose Chapter 1846 in Mountain Home for 20 years.
Patricia is survived by her brother Alton (Judy) Sanstad of Geneva, Illinois; sister Andrea K (Marvin) of Fort of Lake Villa, Illinois; 7 nieces and nephews: Dana Agostinelli, Kim Poole, Kristine Dreyer, Erik Sanstad, Tina Polus, Kipp Fort, Stephanie Sanstad, 8 great nieces and nephews: Joey & Briana Agostinelli, Joshua, Ryan and Sara Polus, Chayce Fort, Freja Sanstad, Maddie Dreyer. She was preceded in death by her parents, her loving husband Bill, her beloved sister Connie Preder whom she slept together with, fought together with, as all siblings do, but always made up with a hug and kiss, and never said goodbye without saying, ''I love you.'', brother-in-law A.T. Preder, and youngest brother Steven Sanstad (whom she adored).
All who knew her remember the following: Life's journey is not to arrive safely at the grave in a well-preserved body but rather to skid in sideways totally worn out shouting Holy Hannah…WHAT A RIDE!! Live it to the fullest.
Services will be private. Memorials can be made to The Hospice of the Ozarks, which cared for her husband Bill during his last days.