Geraldine Smola, 103, from Stanley died Wednesday, November 29, 2017 at a Stanley nursing home.

She was born in rural Rosetown, Sask, Canada on May 20, 1914, to David and Carolyn (Franek) Richards. Her sister Bernice was born in 1915. Geraldine started school in Biggar, Sask, and later attended school in Winnipeg, Manitoba. In 1923, they moved to Detroit, MI, where she graduated from the High School of Commerce in January 1930. In June 1930, they came to the Ross area to visit relatives and on August 27, 1930, she married Frank H. Cvancara, who she had met on previous visits to North Dakota. Frank and Geraldine had four children and farmed near Ross, ND, until his death on April 4, 1968.
Geraldine married Jim Smola on June 10, 1969. He died on June 17, 1991. She moved into Stanley that fall. In December 2006, she moved to the Mountrail Bethel Home.
Geraldine loved her family and the farm. She especially adored her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and would have loved to have met her great-great grandchild, Jackson. She liked to garden, sew, crochet, read, and always tried to keep in contact with many friends and relatives. She enjoyed traveling, going to the Bahamas, Alaska, Hawaii, Canada, and throughout the entire United States.
Geraldine was involved in many community activities including the Ross American Legion Auxiliary and Stanley Hospital Auxiliary. She was Financial Secretary for the Western Bohemian Fraternal Association for 41 years and the treasurer for Ross Senior Citizens for 34 years. She attended the Stanley Presbyterian Church and was a supporter of the Sybil Center for Life Enrichment and the Veteran's Memorial Park.
Geraldine was preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Bernice; both of her husbands; her son Niel, daughter Sandra Graham, and daughter Elsie Pankowski. She is survived by her daughter Nancy Thronson; son-in-law Tom Pankowski; grandchildren Geri Pankowski, Daryl (Ahisha) Pankowski; and Julie Long; great-grandchildren Josiah, Terex, & Triton Pankowski, and Erik-Michael and Allison Dooley; great-great grandson Jackson Dooley.