SMITH, Ralph M. (1907-1984)

SMITH, BUNS, HEITLAND, BOELTS

Posted By: Hancock Co Genealogical Society
Date: 2/20/2023 at 12:42:42

Ralph Smith, 76

Services for Ralph Smith, 76, of Woden, who died, Wednesday at Woden, were held 1:30 p.m Saturday, July 21, at St. John's Lutheran Church in Woden with Rev. Mark Smith as officiant.

Mrs. John Kurtzleben served as organist. Calvin Kurtzleben and Vernon Stohr were ushers.

Casket bearers were grandsons: Douglas Smith, Dennis Smith, Jr., Darrin Smith, Dana Smith, Danny Smith and David Smith.

Burial was in Bingham Township Cemetery south of Woden. Visitation was held at the Cataldo Funeral Chapel in Woden.

Ralph Martin Smith, the son of Ralph J. and Bertha K. (Buns) Smith was born Sept. 27, 1907 on a farm south of Woden. After attending the rural schools of Bingham Township and Woden Public School he farmed with his father until 1934.

January 1, 1932 he married Mae Heitland at Immanuel Lutheran Church north of Woden. They continued farming until 1977 when they retired. In 1970 they moved into Woden.

Ralph was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church where he served on the Council for 42 years. He also served his community as a member of the Woden School Board.

He is survived by his wife, Mae; his children: Donald and his wife, Arlene, of Tulsa, Okla., Roger and his wife, Patricia, of Perry, Darwin and his wife, Cheryl, of Dubuque and Dennis and his wife, Linda, of Woden; 12 grandchildren; a sister, Mrs. Anna Boelts of Woden; and a brother, Henry Arthur Smith and his wife, Leora, of Denver, Colo.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Dorothy Smith.

source: Leader & Signal, Garner, Iowa, 25 Jul 1984, page 4, column 1