Oras Smith

Oras Mae Smith, 55, of Cass Lake , MN died Saturday, May 12, 2007 at the Cass Lake PHS Indian Hospital in Cass Lake , MN .

Funeral Services will be 1:00 pm, Thursday, May 17, 2007 at the Veteran’s Memorial Building in Cass Lake with Rev. Harold Eaglebull officiating.   A wake will begin Tuesday, May 15 at 4:00 pm with a memorial service at 7:00 pm and continue on until the time of services on Thursday.  Interment will be at the Prince of Peace Cemetery in Cass Lake , MN under the direction of the Cease Family Funeral Home of Bemidji .

She was born June 20, 1951 in Cass Lake the daughter of Joyce Ann (Headbird) Hanson of Cass Lake and Kenneth Charles Hanson of Red Lake .  She worked in the Health field since 1968 and has been a Registered Nurse for 20 years.  She worked various nursing jobs in Minneapolis .  During the last 14 years she has worked with the children and families of the Leech Lake Reservation and surrounding areas for the Leech Lake Health Division.  From 1993-1997 she worked as the Infant Toddler Program Coordinator and in 1997 she began as the Director of the Leech Lake W.I.C. program in Cass Lake and surrounding communities and continued to work there until the time of her death.  She was very devoted and dedicated to the program.  She was the MLIC Chairperson and was involved in local community events.  She was loving, hardworking and a caring mother, and was involved in school functions with her children and grandchildren.  Activities she enjoyed were spending time with her family and friends, loved country music, dancing, cooking, playing slot machines at the Palace casino, snuggling in bed with Joy watching the Simpsons, and playing poker at home with her family.  When her friends and family were in need she was always there for help and support.

She is survived by her son: Richard (Kitrinka) Butcher of Bemidji; Daughters:  Rhonda (Frank) Butcher of Cass Lake; Glenda Smith of Cass Lake;  Joy Smith of Cass Lake; Mother:  Joyce Hanson of Minneapolis; Sisters: Brenda (Henry) Hanson of Minneapolis; Mary Hanson of Minneapolis; Brother:  Marvin Hanson of Cass Lake; Grandchildren: Marcy White, Douglas, Gerald and Riley Butcher; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins

She was preceded in death by her father Kenneth Hanson, aunt Lucille Raish, nephew Roshawn Fairbanks, brothers Douglas Hanson and Gerald Hanson and sister Sarah Hanson.

Active Casketbearers will be Marvin Hanson, Kenny Hanson, Henry Sutton, Peter Raish, Jr., Donald Headbird, Sr., Mark Hanson with alternate Dennis Brown.

Honorary Casketbearers will be Bev Raish, Cathy Northbird, Donna Murray, Weedy Masten, Jody Bellanger, Carol Blue, Edna Staples, Barb Fairbanks, Faye Headbird, Nancy Whitebird, Cindy King, Trish Prentice, Della Prentice, Barb Prentice and all her nieces, nephews, cousins and the family pet “Benny”.