Ernestine Smith

Ernestine Straub Tollestrup Smith

Ernestine (Ernie) Straub Tollestrup Smith passed away November 5, 2013. She fought her battle with lung cancer with the same courage, humor, grace and dignity with which she lived her life. It was a joy and a blessing to know her and to be a part of her life. She will always be in our hearts.

Ernie was born on October 26, 1925, in Louisville, KY, to Ernest and Carrie Hill Straub. She married Paul Tollestrup, they later divorced in 1954. She met James Monroe Smith and they were married in 1961. He preceded her in death in 1997. She is survived by her twin daughters, Vickie (David) Tollestrup Applegate, Liberty Lake, WA, and Robyn (Rick) Tollestrup Eldard, Valrico, FL; five grandchildren, Jamie Eldard Sommer, Valrico, FL, Matt Applegate, Edwall, WA, Keith Eldard, San Antonio, TX, Erin Applegate, Boise, ID, and Jack Applegate, Cheny, WA; four great-grandchildren, Cole, Colby and Emerson Sommer, Valrico, FL, and Sophia Applegate, Edwall, WA. She felt very blessed when granddaughter-in-law, Wendy (Matt) Applegate was added to her family. She is also survived by her sisters Dianne (Ed) Padron, Mt. Washington, KY, Linda Bell and brother Allen (Anita) Straub, Louisville, KY. She was preceded in death by her parents, brother Charles Straub and sister Caroline Straub Skaggs. Although they were not born to her, she considered Barbara (Jim) Heitz and Jodi (Sam) Foit her surrogate daughters.

Ernie loved to dance to the "Big Bands" at the USO dances prior to and during WWII. She was able to travel and spent time in post war France and Germany. She later traveled to Turkey and Korea. One of her favorite pastimes was learning about different cultures. She was employed in advertising after high school and worked several years for civil service.

Ernie moved to Layton, UT, in 1948 and lived there until 2005, when she moved to Liberty Lake, WA, to be near Vickie. She became a "snow bird" and traveled to Florida to visit Robyn each winter. She missed all of her "Layton" friends, but enjoyed being closer to family.

She would like to thank Drs. Rita Snow and Danko Martincic for their expert care and compassion. Without their direction, this would have been a very different journey.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Cancer Care Northwest, Paralyzed Veterans of America or charity of your choice.

Funeral services will be held Friday, November 15, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. at Lindquist''s Layton Mortuary, 1867 N. Fairfield Rd, Layton, UT. Interment, Utah Veteran Memorial Cemetery, 17111 South Camp Williams Rd, Bluffdale, UT.