Joan Ann Smith

Joan Ann Smith, age 73, of Minatare, Nebraska, passed away surrounded by her loving family on Monday, September 21, 2026, at Regional West Medical Center in Scottsbluff. Cremation has taken place in accordance with her wishes. A Celebration of Life will be held at 2:00 p.m., on Sunday, October 11, 2026, at Beecher Hall (1730 18th Street, Mitchell, Nebraska). Online condolences may be expressed by visiting Joan’s obituary page, viewable at www.reverencefuneralparlor.com.

Joan was born on March 13, 1953, in Antigo, Wisconsin, to Norman Leroy and Leola Francis (Comstock) Morton. She worked in the medical field for most of her life, but her greatest joy was her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Joan never encountered a jigsaw puzzle she could not master or a person who would not become a friend.

She married Don Douglas Smith and together they raised five children.

Survivors include her children, Deborah (Roy) Ibrahim, Tanisha (Jeff) Herder, Clayton Frye, and Pamela Smith; siblings, Janet (Mike) Erickson, Juanita (Tim) Merriweather; and John Morton; fourteen grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.

She was preceded in passing by her parents, Norman and Leola Morton; brother, Jim Morton, and daughter, Sarah Smith.