Ruth Armstrong Smith Papers

Ruth Mae Armstrong was born on November 9, 1925, in Reno, the daughter of Elmer and Edna Armstrong. She had two brothers, Raymond and John. She went to Northside Junior High School and Reno High School. She was a member of the Reno Assembly of Rainbow Girls Club. During high school, she was a member of the Manzanita Arc of the Fireside Circle and was elected the State President in 1941. She was also active in the Hi-X Club of the Federated Church. As a University of Nevada freshman in 1944, she was awarded a scholarship by the Grand Lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. While a student at the University of Nevada during World War II, she was a member of the Delta Delta Delta (Tri-Delta) Sorority. She also participated in painting the "N" on Peavine Mountain and was a member of the Home Economics Club. After graduating from the university as a home economics major in 1947, she was an alumna member of the Tri-Delta Alliance in Reno. After the war, she was also a member of the White Rose Club of the Sigma Nu fraternity in Reno and of Nevada's Native Daughters. Her Tri-Delta little sister, Dee Hand Johnson, was matron of honor when she married LaMar Smith on May 12, 1951.

LaMar Smith participated in ROTC at the University of Nevada and was commissioned in the Air Force. After graduating from the University of Nevada, he obtained a master's degree in librarianship at the University of Oklahoma and became a librarian at the University of Nevada. During his 29-year career, he held several different positions in the Clark and Getchell Libraries and was active in the Nevada Library Association. The Smiths had twin daughters, Krisan and Karma. Karma died as an infant in 1960.

Ruth Mae Armstrong Smith died in Sparks, Nevada, on December 22, 2010.