Grace M. Smebak

Funeral services for Grace M. Smebak of Roseau, MN will be held on Friday, December 4th at 10 AM at First United Lutheran Church in Roseau.  Visitation will be on Thursday evening from 5-7 PM with a 7:00 prayer service at Helgeson Funeral Home in Roseau.  Interment will be at the Hope Cemetery.

Grace Marjorie Norquist Smebak, 93, was born on the family farm in rural Roseau on January 15, 1922, to Emil and Anna Norquist. She entered Heaven’s gates on November 29, 2015, at LifeCare Manor in Roseau.

Grace’s greatest accomplishment in this life was raising five children and her greatest heartache was burying two sons, Glenn and Randy.

Grace attended rural school near the farmstead and eventually graduated from Roseau High School. At a young age her mother died leaving Grace and the other older girls to raise the younger siblings. Grace married Herbert Smebak, and the marriage brought forth five children.

Along with her family, Roseau Hospital and Sheltering Oaks Manor were the beneficiary of her cooking skills. Fried chicken, potato dumplings, buns and cinnamon rolls, homemade soups and such Scandinavian treats as flatbread and lefse were her specialties. With her guidance, her descendants have attempted to carry on these skills. Her backyard garden yielded stores of fresh and canned fruits and vegetables. The adventure of the lost blueberry pickers (Grace, Julie and Gwen) still holds a place in family lore!

Grace was a member of the Roseau VFW Auxiliary for 42 years and a charter member of First United Lutheran Church.

Following her retirement as a cook, Grace enjoyed reading, gardening, needle work, church service and family visits. We can’t forget the casino trips, either.

Grace relocated from her home to Oak Crest Senior housing following medical issues. A fall compromised her health severely and she moved into LifeCare Manor for the remainder of her life. Surrounded by her family, Grace departed this earthly home to join her family in Heaven.

Grace was preceded in death by her parents; her brothers, Reuben, Steven, Leslie, Harvey, Rodney and Charles; her sister, Iris Shirley; and her sons, Glenn Smebak and Randy Smebak.

She is survived by her sisters, Olive Nyland of Rochester, MN, and Carol Sjaaheim (Ken) of Valparaiso, IN; half-brother, Gordon Lancaster (Bernice) of Turtle River, MN; children Gwen Sallberg (Philip) of Roseau, MN, Jon Smebak (JoAnn Burkel) of Roseau, MN, and Julie Dooley (Ralph) of Winnipeg, Canada; grandchildren, Jason Smebak (Linda), Amy Sjurseth (Paul), Michael Sallberg (Angela), Rebecca Sallberg (Jalon Gustafson), Nancy Smebak (Matthew Abts), Sarah Wernette (Matthew), Leslie Smebak, Rita Smebak, Jessica Dooley, Jillian Bruneau (Philippe); and great-grandchildren: Ashley, McKenzie, and Hailey Smebak; Katelynn, Alexis, Elliott, Noah and Ava Sjurseth.

 Service Information