Leta Lourene Smyth

Leta Lourene Smyth, 95, of Rocky Ford passed away on February 8, 2015 at the Pioneer Health Care Center. She was born on June 22, 1919 in Wyoming to Arthur Andrew & Nora (Dietrich) Archer. Leta married Darrel Smyth in October 1957.


Leta moved with her family to Garden City, Kansas as a baby, where she graduated from high school. She was in the Women’s Air Corps for three years. She took great pride in shaking hands with President Franklin D. Roosevelt during WWII while in Africa. Leta along with her mother ran a dress shop in Denver, Colorado for many years. Leta and Darrel made their home on a cattle ranch in Julesburg, before moving to a place on the hill south of Swink in 1979, then moving into the town of Swink later.


She is survived by stepsons, Robert (Jennifer) Smyth and William (Linda) Smyth all of Greeley, as well as six grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and brother Merlin “Lucky” Archer.


In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Arkansas Valley Hospice, PO Box 408, La Junta, CO 81050 direct or through the funeral home.

Graveside service will be held on Thursday, February 12, 2015 at 1:00 p.m. at the Julesburg Cemetery in Julesburg, Colorado.