Betty Ann Soukup

Notes:

Betty Ann (Soukup) Smetana was born March 13, 1923 on the family farm northeast of Milligan to James and Anna (Svehla) Soukup. On September 23, 2013, she passed away at the age of 90 years, 6 months, and 10 days at the Exeter Care Center. She was one of three children in the family.

Betty attended Praire Queen District 48 Country School through the eighth grade and graduated high school in Milligan with the Class of 1940. Betty's dad took her and her sister Geri to Tabor Hall to a polka dance, where she met Fritz Smetana, and after a short courtship they were married in Marysville, Kansas on December 20,1941. After marriage they lived on several farms and settling for several years on the Evelyn Clark Farm.

In 1989, they bought a house in Milligan, in which they were very proud of. This was the first time they had running water and telephone. Betty was a hard worker all her life. On the farm she raised chickens, mowed the lawn and did a lot of baking. She was step for step with Fritz on the farm helping wherever she could. She was very much involved in the farming operation even after Fritz's passing, and renting of the farm, she would drive out to the farm and inspect the planting, spraying and harvesting. She had a prime seat at her kitchen window during harvest watching the farmers bring in grain. Before Fritz's passing they enjoyed going to polka dances especially at Pleasant Hill on Sunday evening. Betty also enjoyed going to Ron's Tavern drinking coffee and visiting with her friends. After her sister Geri's health began to decline she unselfishly took care of her, and when Geri entered the Exeter Care Center, Betty would go visit her every week and maybe twice a week to take Geri some goodies. Betty celebrated her 90th birthday on March 13, 2013 with a surprise birthday party at Ron's Tavern with her friends. She said it was her best birthday ever.

Betty was preceded in death by an infant sister Dorothy, her parents and parents-in-law, husband, Fritz and brother-in-law Rudy Oliva. She is survived by sister, Geraldine Oliva of the Exeter Care Center, Nephews, Arlan and Eileen Oliva of Scottsdale, AZ, Dennis and Donna Oliva of Milligan, NE, Lambert and Delores Slepicka of Wilber, NE, nieces, Charlotte Sullivan of Norfolk, NE, Evelyn Kantor of Lincoln, NE, great niece, Lindsey and Shane Stone of Hastings, NE, great nephews, Colten and Nathan Oliva both of Milligan, NE and several cousins and host of friends.

Funeral services 2 p.m., Thursday, at the Farmer & Son Funeral Home-Kotas Chapel in Milligan, NE. Visitation from 1 p.m. until 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Kotas Chapel in Milligan. Memorials to Milligan Rescue Unit in lieu of flowers. Burial in the Bohemian National Cemetery.

Condolences www.farmerandsons.com
(Courtesy of Dennis Belohlavy)

Betty married Fred J. "Fritz" Smetana on 20 Dec 1941 in Kansas. Fred was born on 14 Jun 1918 in Exeter, Fillmore County, Nebraska; died on 23 Mar 2001 in Friend, Saline County, Nebraska; was buried in Bohemian National Cemetery (Milligan South), Milligan, Fillmore County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

(Research):

Census Listings:

1930 Federal Census
Nebraska, Saline, Atlanta ED 1
Soukup, James Hd M W 39 M 33 Nebraska Czeck Czeck Farmer
Soukup, Anna Wife F W 30 M 24 Nebraska Czeck Czeck
Soukup, Geraldine Dtr F W 8 S Nebraska Nebraska Nebraska
Soukup, Betty Ann Dtr F W 7 S Nebraska Nebraska Nebraska

James married Anna Svehla on 21 Sep 1918 in Nebraska. Anna was born on 12 Oct 1895 in Nebraska; died on 20 Jun 1968 in Friend, Saline County, Nebraska; was buried in Bohemian National Cemetery (Milligan South), Milligan, Fillmore County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
He and Anna were not listed in the same household at the time of the 1920 census.

Notes:

Czechs in Nebraska
Saline County. Atlanta Precinct

Frank Soukup, Skalice, Sobeslav

http://www.usgennet.org/usa/ne/topic/ethnic/czechs/cz-pg70a.html

(Research):
Census Information:

1900 Census
Nebraska, Saline County, Atlanta Precinct, ED 104
SOAKUP, Frank Hd W M Feb 1850 50 M M 24 Bohemia Bohemia Bohemia 1884 16 Naturalized Farmer
SOAKUP, Rosa Wife W R Jan 1857 Bohemia Bohemia Bohemia Mother of 8 Children/7 still living
SOAKUP, Frank Son W M July 1876 23 S Bohemia Bohemia Bohema 1884 16 Naturalized Farm Laborer
SOAKUP, Mike Son W M Jun 1878 20 S Bohemia Bohemia Bohemia Farm Laborer
SOAKUP, John Son W M May 1882 18 S Bohemia Bohemia Bohemia Farm Labor
SOAKUP, Albert Son W M May 1884 16 S Nebraska Bohemia Bohemia Farm Labor
SOAKUP, Fred Son W M Jan 1887 13 S Nebraska Bohemia Bohemia Farm Labor
SOAKUP, Jim Son W M May 1890 10 S Nebraska Bohemia Bohemia At School
SOAKUP, Emo Son W M May 1892 8 S Nebraska Bohemia Bohemia At School

1910 Census
Nebraska, Saline County, Atlanta Precinct
SOUKUP, Frank Hd M W 60 M1 36 Aust Bohemia Aust Bohemia Aust Bohemia Farmer
SOUKUP, Rosie Wf F W 53 M1 36 Mother of 9 Children/8 Still Living Aust Bohemia Aust Bohemia Aust Bohemia
SOUKUP, Joseph Son M W 20 S Nebraska Aust Bohemia Aust Bohemia Farm
SOUKUP, James Son M W 20 S Nebraska Aust Bohemia Aust Bohemia Farm
SOUKUP, Emil Son M W 18 S Nebraska Aust Bohemia Aust Bohemia Teacher

Frantisek married Ruzena "Rosa" Stech. Ruzena was born in Jan 1857 in Bohemia; died after 1920. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]