Obituaries

Norine Joyce Smith (nee McCaustland), 92, died January 5, 2025, at her home in The Classic, in Altoona, Wisconsin.

Norine was born in Lime Springs, Iowa on February 13, 1932, to Earl and Lovira (Sandborn) McCaustland. In college she earned a teaching degree and taught elementary for a few years before attending the University of Northern Colorado to begin a master’s degree. There she met Kenyard Smith and the two would marry December 27, 1958. They moved to Great Falls, Montana where they had three sons, Craig, Carter, and Connor.

The family moved to Stevens Point, Wisconsin in 1966. Norine taught at Washington Elementary School and Kenyard at the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point. Years there were filled with weekend ski trips during the winter, picnics at Sunset Lake during the summer, fortnightly dances with their group of friends, dinner parties, and much travel.

In 1980, the family moved back to Great Falls for Ken’s career. Both spent much time with their grandchildren Dacia, Dayton, and Devony (Craig) taking them to sporting events, dance, music events, and travel. Kenyard retired in 1994, and subsequent years were spent with the lovely group of friends they had met back in the late 50’s and with whom they still got together regularly for cards, dinners, dances, and all-around fun. There was also travel with Norine’s siblings and their spouses as well as best friends, the Johnsons, and trips to see Carter (Wisconsin) and Connor (Kentucky) and their families.

Norine was a caring and generous person, devoted to her family. Once family and most friends had left Great Falls, in 2021 they moved to Wisconsin to be closer to family.

She was preceded in death by son, Craig; her brother, Earl; her parents; and other aunts and uncles.

She is survived by her husband, Kenyard; her sons, Carter (Beth and Gabe), Connor (Kimcherie, Liam and Keelin), Dacia, Dayton, and Devony; her sisters, Verna Lou and Linda; and many nieces and nephews.

Norine and Kenyard wanted to be buried together. A celebration of life and burial will take place in the future in her hometown Lime Springs.