Helga Elizabeth Smith

Helga Elisabeth Smith, Born on November 21, 1937 in Allenstein, East Prussia to Anna Bukowski and Franz Kewitz, passed away on September 25, 2018 in Farmington, Utah. She was the fifth of seven siblings. Raised in Bad Hersfeld, Germany after her family migrated there from East Prussia during WWII. During her youth she loved Elvis Presley, and also worked in a bakery and movie theater.  Helga met her husband James while he was stationed in Germany serving for the United States Army. They married in 1960 in Manheim.

Helga moved to the United States when Jim was stationed at Fort Ord, California in 1963. They moved to Salinas, California after Jim retired from the Army. She worked for Emporium and Macy’s in jewelry and clothing for many years. A few years into retirement Jim and Helga moved to Farmington, Utah to be close to her sister. Helga had great taste in clothes, always looked classy, and above all was a lady. Helga loved socializing with friends, eating See’s candy, and even a little gossip. She always had a way of making whatever she touched look fabulous. She had remarkable maternal instincts and could always tell if you were not feeling well if you didn’t have “good color.” She spent many of her last years taking care of Jim while he was in poor health, and did so in an unselfish way that many came to admire.

Helga is survived by her Sons, Jim (Cathy), Thomas Michael, Grandchildren Jessica (Nicolas) Cronin, Jennifer (Shawn) Cordier, Jeremy Smith and Heather (Jonathan) Spratley, seven great grandchildren (Wesley, Lily, Kamryn, Penelope, Jonathan, Oliver and Jaxon), brother Franz Kewitz and Brother in Law Thomas Findlay.

Services will be held on Friday, October 19, 11 AM at the California Central Coast Veterans Cemetery 2900 Parker Flats Road, Seaside, CA 93955.