Maryann Szabo Smith Reum
PABLO — Maryann Szabo Smith Reum, 80, died at home in Pablo on Friday, Dec. 9, 2005.
Maryann was born on Aug. 20, 1925, in Harlen County, Ky., to Joseph J. Szabo and Mary Violet Dewey. She lived in Majestic, Ky., where her father was a coal miner and her grandmother Rose Szabo ran a boarding house for the Hungarian coal miners.
At the age of 13 she moved to Long Island, N.Y., to live with her mother and stepfather, Andrew Polash. While in New York she worked in the army commissary and at Smalls Dept. Store. This is where she met the first love of her life, Douglas Robert Smith. He was working in the Army Air Force training at the AFTS.
At the age of 17, Maryann married Douglas in East Meadows, N.Y., at the Catholic Church on Nov. 23, 1943. The following March Douglas was shipped out to the South Pacific. Maryann moved back in with her mother and worked in the silk mill where they made parachutes for the Army.
She later worked at the Republic Aircraft factory putting together P38s.
In November 1945, Douglas returned for his bride and brought her to his hometown of Helena. Douglas worked for Montana Power and they moved to Canyon Ferry Dam.
In 1947 they moved to Holter Dam at Wolf Creek and it was there that they raised their three children.
In 1963 Maryann was diagnosed with breast cancer and survived. In 1968, they moved to Kerr Dam near Polson.
Maryann and Douglas enjoyed racing, snowmobiling, dancing and bowling. She loved to raise flowers and garden. Douglas died in 1977.
She married Leroy Reum in August 1983. They made their home in Pablo after Roy sold his Ready Mix.
Maryann filled her yard with flowers and enjoyed keeping her place nice and kept. She and Roy bowled for years together. Roy died in 1997.
Her daughter Laura and granddaughters Jeannie and Leslie cared for her at home in her last days of her life.
Her granddaughters and great-grandchildren surrounded her during the last years of her life. They comforted and loved her and she was able to see her great-great-granddaughter be born. This was the fifth generation matriarch of first women.
She was preceded in death by her husbands Douglas Smith and Roy Reum, her parents, her sister Rose Baker, a grandson Sherann Strangeowl and stepson Cliff Reum.
She is survived by two sisters, Marie Jack and Elizabeth Stump; two brothers, Joseph Szabo and Robert Szabo, all of Michigan; her daughter Laura Loween of Pablo; two sons, Douglas Smith and his wife Mitzie of California and Daniel Smith and his wife of Polson; stepchildren Vern and Roxanne Reum, Wayne and Marsha Reum, Kathy Reum and granddaughters Leslie and Glenn Reum of Pablo, Jeannie and Dale Mataitas of Ronan, Maryjo and Josh Anderson of the Swan, Shari Cartwright of Pablo, Penny Cartwright of Pablo, Angie Eli of California, Holly Smith of Ronan, Daniel Jr. Smith of Polson; great grandchildren Ian Urban, Joseph and Faye Stanley, Trista (Stanley) and Bruce Rennich, Christy Urban, Daniel Cartwright, Joshua Powell, Mathew Powell, Devon Lester, Michael Urban, Jessica Lester, Rebecca Lester, Milek Strangeowl, Desirae Strangeowl, Elija Eli and Robert Eli; step-grandchildren Tammy and Shane Reum, Ryan Reum, Cassie and Jessica Reum, Kenon Reum, Alisha Matt and Jeremiah Reum; fifth generation great-great-granddaughter Phoenix Nashae Rennich, and step-great-great- granddaughters Memphis Matt and Navonntah Martin Reum, and step-grandson Loki Matt.
Cremation has taken place and a memorial service will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 21 at 2 p.m. at the Grogan Funeral Home in Polson. Inurnment will follow at Lakeview Cemetery in Polson.
Condolences may also be sent to the family at
www.groganfuneralhome.com.