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. She was the first woman to be elected to a statewide constitutional office in Wisconsin.^[1]

She was born in Kewaunee, Wisconsin as Dena Besserdich,^[1][2] the daughter of Charles Besserdich and Emma Stups Besserdich.^[3] Smith was a business manager for music stores in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.^[1] 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.^[4] She was elected to the office in 1960 and she served until her death from double pneumonia on February 20, 1968.^[1][5]

Notes

1. "Dena Smith Services Saturday". Janesville Daily Gazette. February 21, 1968. p. 14. Retrieved December 25, 2014 – via Newspapers.com.
2. "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.
3. "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.
4. "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.
5. 'Wisconsin Blue Book 1968,' Biographical Sketch of Dena A. Smith, pg. 6