SMOLDT, Frances 1909-2011

SMOLDT, WILLOUGHBY, KRAUSE

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 3/25/2015 at 15:53:12

Frances S. Smoldt, 102, of Grundy Center, passed away on Saturday, December 3, 2011 at the Grundy County Memorial Hospital in Grundy Center, Iowa. Visitation will be held on Friday, December 9th from 6 to 8 P.M. at Engelkes-Abels Funeral Home in Grundy Center. The funeral and interment will be private.

Frances was born on November 5, 1909 in Grundy Center, Iowa, the daughter of Hugh A. & Clara S. (Krause) Willoughby. She grew up in Grundy Center where she attended school, graduating from Grundy Center High School. She went on to further her education attending the University of Iowa where she received her Bachelor's Degree in Music. She also attended Southern California University where she was working her way towards a Master's Degree in Music. On May 5, 1934, Frances married Eldon Charles Smoldt in Omaha, Nebraska. The couple welcomed 5 children.

Frances was a longtime member of PEO, Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority and a member of the First Baptist Church in Grundy Center where she was active in missions and several church organizations. Family and church were most important to Frances. She was always willing to help others and was a woman of great faith. She will be missed by all who knew and loved her.

She is survived by her children Charles E. (Darlene) Smoldt of Grundy Center, IA, Craig A. Smoldt of Rochester, MN, Carolyn J. Mikkelsen (Morris) of Cedar Falls, IA and Robert K. (Pam) Smoldt of Fountain Hills, AZ; 9 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren; a brother Robert Willoughby of New Castle, New Hampshire.

Frances was preceded in death by her husband Eldon; daughter in infancy Marcia Smoldt; grandson David Mikkelsen; siblings Bliss Willoughby and Jean Gesell.

--Abels Funeral Homes (www.abelsfuneralhomes.com)