Gina Helen Ekholt Smith, 93, of Shelby and former Kevin resident, passed away Monday, January 1, 2007 at the Marias Care Center due to natural causes. Visitation is Thursday from 1:00 until 8:00 p.m. at the Whitted Funeral Chapel. Funeral services are 11:00 a.m. Friday, January 5, 2007 at the Whitted Funeral Chapel with burial to follow in the Valley View Cemetery .

Gina is preceded in death by her parents; husbands, Gilbert Lewis and Donald Smith; daughter, Helen Ferderer; three sisters and two brothers.

Survivors include her son, Lloyd Lewis of Lincoln , MT ; sisters, Annie Wiegand of Shelby and Cora Michaels of Cut Bank; step-mother, Martha Ekholt of Shelby ; son-in-law, Richard Ferderer of Great Falls ; grandchildren, Jeff Ferderer, Jerry Ferderer, Darlene Diechert, Ray Lewis and Milinda Wasyczek; as well as six great-grandchildren.

Gina was born July 26, 1913 on the family farm north of Devon to Carl & Caren (Sabo) Ekholt. She married Gilbert C. Lewis May 28, 1934 at Eureka , he later died. In 1977 she married Donald Smith at Shelby , they later divorced. Gina worked as a janitor for the Big West Oil Co. in Kevin, a waitress, housecleaning and other various jobs in the area.

Gina was a member of Methodist Church where she was active with the United Methodist Church Women. She enjoyed gardening, camping, fishing, traveling, crocheting and baking pies and cookies to give to her friends and family.