Laura Smith, wife and mother, age 34
Laura Lynn (Jeppesen) Smith met Jesus, her Savior, face-to-face on December 19, 2025. She fought a 20-year battle with neuroendocrine tumors (cancer) with everything she had. Her death was peaceful, surrounded by family and close friends.
Laura was born October 6, 1991 in Lincoln, NE to Ron and Caroline Jeppesen. She grew up the sixth of ten children on a farm outside Pleasant Dale, NE. Laura attended Middle Creek Country School #38 (Class I) until 5th grade, and Jr and Sr High School in Milford, NE. In 2013, she graduated from Concordia University in Seward, NE where she received her Bachelor’s of Science in Secondary Education and Mathematics. Following graduation, Laura married her high school sweetheart, Nathan Smith, on July 6, 2013.
Laura taught mathematics at Heartland Community High School in Henderson, NE immediately after college. She would later teach at Emmanuel-Faith Lutheran School in York, NE before staying at home with her three children and operating her PaperPie (Usborne) book business. Laura loved being a wife and mother.
Laura’s life was marked by family, friends, faith, and a strong work ethic. She is a child of God and was baptized on October 24, 1991 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Pleasant Dale, NE. Laura loved traveling and adventuring with Nathan. She was an accomplished pianist and gave lessons to a number of students. Laura and Nathan became proficient swing dancers, loved ice skating, traveling the country going to car shows, and exploring new places. Her love for Jesus was evident in the way she cared for people, including the nurses and hospital staff who cared for her.
Laura is survived by her husband, Nathan, and three children; Warren (5), Clara (3), and Gavin (1). Laura is also survived by her parents, Ron and Caroline Jeppesen Seward, NE; in-law’s, Myron and Barb Smith Lincoln, NE; siblings, Katherine Drefs (Matthew) Concordia, MO, Christine Ruhl (Peter) Milford, NE, Melanie Jeppesen (Brent Bolzenius) Lee’s Summit, MO, Robert Jeppesen (Jennifer) York, NE, Natalie Erbes (Steven) Grand Rapids, MI, Amy Johnson (Adam) Rosemount, MN, Micah Jeppesen (Noelle) Lincoln, NE, Lydia Smith (Joshua) Earlham, IA, Abigail DeForest (Brennan) Chico, CA; and paternal grandparents, Milo and Marian Jeppesen of Blair, NE. She is also survived by 26 nieces and nephews. Laura is preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, Gene and Kathryn Schumaker, Aunt Pam Jacobson, and sister-in-law, Macey Jeppesen.
Funeral services are scheduled for 10:30 a.m., Monday, December 22, 2025 at the Faith Lutheran Church in York, with a luncheon to follow. Interment will be at 2:30 p.m. Monday at St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery at SW 112th St and O Street in rural Lincoln. Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. Sunday at the Faith Lutheran Church in York. In lieu of flowers and plants, memorials may be directed to future education of Warren, Clara, and Gavin and mailed to Faith Lutheran Church made to Nathan Smith. Memorials may also be made to Mission Central or Faith Lutheran Church in the name of Laura Smith.
Laura has fought the good fight, she has finished the race, she has kept the faith.