STERLING – Anna Smoot, 67, of Sterling, died Friday, Jan. 13, 2012, at Rockford Memorial Hospital.

She was born Dec. 17, 1944, in Erfurt, Germany, the daughter of Janis and Elza (Aizpuris) Benkitis. She married Vernon Smoot on Oct. 3, 1964, in Sterling. Anna was a member of First Church of the Nazarene in Sterling. She was a very talented handcrafter and enjoyed sewing. She was known for her arts and crafts displayed at the Sandwich Fair and Elwood House.

Survivors include her husband, Vernon; her son, Kevin (Susan Helms) Smoot of Sterling; her granddaughters, Brenna and Tyler Smoot; her sisters, Biruta (Arlyn) Strike of DeKalb and Sylvia (Don) Smoot of Sterling.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her daughter, Karin Smoot; her brother, Janis; and sister-in-law, Patricia Benkitis.

Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at McDonald Funeral Home in Rock Falls. The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at First Church of the Nazarene in Sterling, with the Rev. Robert Hasselbring officiating. Burial will be at Riverside Cemetery in Sterling.