Leila Ruth Smith, 83 of Sterling passed away Wednesday, December 15, 2021 in Brush, CO. A memorial service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, December 21 at Trinity Lutheran Church with Reverend Michael Paulison and Reverend James R. Nash officiating. Leila saw the bright side of every situation and loved the color "purple". The family requests that guests wear something purple or another bright color. The service will conclude at the church.

Leila was born February 3, 1938, in Cass Lake, Minnesota to Fred Frank Dewitt and Katherine (Gaubatz) Dewitt. She attended k -8 ^th grade at Cass Lake, Minnesota, and 9 -12 ^th grade in Lyons, Kansas. She also attended some classes at NJC in Sterling, CO.

She married Larry Douglas Smith on December 8, 1956, in Chase, Kansas. The couple moved to Sterling in 1959. Leila was a preschool teacher from 1998 – 2011 and was the director at Trinity Lutheran Church preschool for over 30 years. She also taught Sunday school and Wednesday school. She was a longtime member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Mary Martha Circle, and she sang in the church choir.

Leila was honored with the Sterling Angels Award for her service to the community. She enjoyed gardening, sewing, reading, and listening to Christian, Classical and other music. Her "special interest" was the many children that she came in contact with.

She is preceded in death by her husband Larry, parents; brothers Harold, Lewis, Art and Les Dewitt; and sisters Esther, Barb and Lucy.

Leila is survived by her sons Timothy G. Smith and Douglas D. Smith and wife Dana; grandson Christian Smith; brothers Vernon Dewitt and Donald Dewitt and sister Elverna Dawson.

Memorials may be made to Trinity Lutheran Church for "Bibles for all Children", 732 Clark St., Sterling, CO 80751.