Elizabeth Dowd ’52 Smouse

Elizabeth Anne “Betty” Smouse, 87 years old, passed away Wednesday, September 20, 2017 at home with her family at her side after a long illness. Betty was born April 4, 1930 in Ann Arbor, Michigan to the late Leslie W. and Ruth Ann (nee Minar) Dowd. She attended Hope College in Holland, Michigan where she met Ken Smouse, her future husband. She then attended Northwestern University School of Nursing in Evanston and graduated from Ryburn-King School of Nursing in Ottawa, Illinois. Betty married Ken Smouse on October 18, 1951 at the First Congregational Church in Marseilles, Illinois with her step-father the Rev. Issac Scherpenisse officiating. Her father Dr. Leslie Dowd had passed away a few months before Betty was born. After Ken returned home from serving in the Marine Corps they moved to Bloomington, Illinois so Ken could complete his masters programs at Illinois Wesleyan and Illinois State Universities. In 1956 the family moved to Antioch where Ken had taken a teaching position at Antioch High School. At this time, they joined the Antioch United Methodist Church where Betty sang in the choir and Ken was choir director for many years, they have belonged to the Church for 61 years. Betty returned to nursing in 1967 when she became an RN in the children and teens unit at Condell Memorial Hospital in Libertyville where she worked for 28 years before her retirement. Other than their jobs, Ken and Betty were pretty much inseparable, they were two of the original co-founders of PM&L Theatre in 1961, the Fools Players in the 1970’s, and Festive Arts of Antioch in 1980. In 2002, they received an award from Lakeland Media in appreciation of their overall commitment to the excellence of the Lake County Community in the Lake County Progress Addition. Betty also was a member of the Antioch Women’s Club and the Wesley Circle of the Methodist Church. Survivors include four sons: Steve (Gerianne) of Antioch, Jerry (Jody) of San Diego, California, Rick of Pine Cliffe, Colorado and Jeff (Shari) of Antioch; One daughter Betsy of Antioch; 6 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren; a brother, the Rev. Richard (Anita) Scherpenisse of North Canton, Ohio and many, many friends that are truly family from over the years. She was preceded in death by her husband Ken in 2015, her infant twin sister, Virginia Marie at birth and her parents. A celebration of Betty’s life will be held on Saturday, October 28, 2017 at the United Methodist Church of Antioch, 848 Main St (Hwy 83) in Antioch. Friends may call from 10AM until time of services at 12 noon with the Rev. Bob Wang officiating. Time for reflection will follow in Wesley Hall. Donations in her honor may be made to the United Methodist Church Maintenance Fund of the PM&L Capitol Campaign Fund. Arrangements were entrusted to the caring staff of STRANG FUNERAL HOME , 1055 Main St. Antioch, Illinois. Information: (847) 395-4000 or the website at Strangfh.com.

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