Dena A. Smith

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. "Dena Smith Services Saturday". Janesville Daily Gazette. February 21, 1968. p. 14. Retrieved December 25, 2014 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  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
  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
  8. 'Wisconsin Blue Book 1968,' Biographical Sketch of Dena A. Smith, pg. 6

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