Dena A. Smith (October 19, 1899 – February 20, 1968) was the state treasurer of Wisconsin from 1957 to 1959 and from 1961 until her death in office in 1968.[1] She was the first woman to be elected to a statewide constitutional office in Wisconsin.[2]

She was born in Kewaunee, Wisconsin as Dena Besserdich,[2][3] the daughter of Charles Besserdich and Emma Stups Besserdich.[4] Smith was a business manager for music stores in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.[2] During that period, Smith was a member of State, National and International Federation of Business and Professional Women's Clubs.[5] Active in party politics, Smith served three terms as vice chairman of the 4th congressional district Republican executive committee and was a Republican presidential elector in 1960.[6]

She assisted her husband Warren R. Smith as deputy treasurer when he was state treasurer, and she was appointed to succeed him when he died by Governor Vernon Thomson.[7] She was elected to the office in 1960 and she served until her death from double pneumonia on February 20, 1968.[2][8]

Notes

  1. ^ "Wisconsin". CAWP. 2015-04-23. Retrieved 2019-03-01.
  2. ^ a b c d "Dena Smith Services Saturday". Janesville Daily Gazette. February 21, 1968. p. 14. Retrieved December 25, 2014 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  3. ^ "Smith's Widow Selected to Fill Treasurer Post (part 2)". Oshkosh Daily Northwestern. December 5, 1957. p. 7. Retrieved December 25, 2014 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  4. ^ "Wisconsin, Births and Christenings, 1826-1926," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XRDZ-P51 : accessed 25 December 2014), Dena Besserdich, 19 Oct 1899; citing Kewaunee, Wisconsin, reference item 3 p 489; FHL microfilm 1,302,885.
  5. ^ State of Wisconsin Blue Book. 1981.
  6. ^ "28th WWIG Annual Recognition and Scholarship Gala". events.r20.constantcontact.com. Retrieved 2019-03-01.
  7. ^ "Smith's Widow Selected to Fill Treasurer Post (part 1)". Oshkosh Daily Northwestern. December 5, 1957. p. 1. Retrieved December 25, 2014 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  8. ^ 'Wisconsin Blue Book 1968,' Biographical Sketch of Dena A. Smith, pg. 6
Party political offices Preceded byWarren R. Smith Republican nominee for State Treasurer of Wisconsin 1958, 1960, 1962, 1964, 1966 Succeeded byHarold W. Clemens Political offices Preceded byWarren R. Smith Treasurer of Wisconsin 1957–1959 Succeeded byEugene M. Lamb Preceded byEugene M. Lamb Treasurer of Wisconsin 1961–1968 Succeeded byHarold W. Clemens


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