Dena L. Smith

Celebration of Life Service for Dena L. Smith will be held on Thursday, March 3, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Bertrand, Nebraska with Pastor Matt Hacker officiating. Private family inurnment will be held at a later date.

Dena Lynn Smith, 41 years of age, of Holdrege, Nebraska, passed away on Monday, February 29, 2016 at CHI Health – Good Samaritan in Kearney, Nebraska. Dena was born July 8, 1974 at Kearney, Nebraska, the daughter of Leroy "Dean" and Dianne (Young) Fisher. She was baptized at the St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Bertrand. At the age of fourteen, Dena was adopted by Dan Ostendorf and Cathleen (Ostendorf) Haussermann. Dena received her education from Holdrege Public Schools, graduating from Holdrege High School with the class of 1994.

Following her education, Dena was employed by Mosaic as a clerk at the Corner Nugget. Many friendship bonds were formed with her co-workers throughout the years. Dena was blessed with two children: Michelle Lynn Noel and Alex "Max" Brummer.

On July 21, 2009 she was united in marriage to James D. Smith and the couple continued to make their home in Holdrege. Each week, they made sure to take time for each other, as they enjoyed date night at the movies and went out to eat together. Dena loved playing Facebook games, music was always an important part of her life, and she enjoyed collecting Mickey Mouse figurines and unicorns. Most important in her life was her children.

Besides her grandparents: John and Fern Young and Maynard Johnson; she was preceded in death by her step-father, Donald Haussermann; and aunt, Carol Ann Cole.

Dena leaves to celebrate her life; her husband, James Smith of Holdrege; daughter, Michelle Noel of Holdrege; son, Max "Alex" Brummer of Omaha, Nebraska; biological parents: Dean Fisher of Grand Island, Nebraska and Dianne (Young) Weig of Bertrand; adopted parents: Dan Ostendorf of Gibbon, Nebraska and Cathleen Haussermann of Holdrege; brother, Roy Fisher and his wife, Sara of Middleburg, Florida; grandparents: Don and Ruth Ostendorf of Kearney, Nebraska, and Gladys Johnson of Holdrege; aunts and uncles: David and Sue Young of Bertrand, Dale and Becky Young of Bertrand, Colleen Jameson of Grand Island, Nebraska, Gene and Dorothy Synovec of Western, Nebraska, Becky (Ostendorf) Wright of Sidney, Nebraska, and Patricia Gray of Denver, Colorado; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins; other relatives and friends.

There will be no visitation, the family is honoring Dena's wish for cremation.

A memorial has been established in Dena's honor and kindly suggested to the family.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of arrangements.