SMITH, Helen M. (Theobald) 1918-2014

SMITH, THEOBALD, KLOECKNER

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 12/30/2014 at 21:38:10

Helen M. Smith, 96

Helen M. Smith, 96, of Stewartville, formerly of Rochester and Adams, Minnesota, died peacefully in her sleep on Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2014, at her home in Stewartville.

Helen Margaret was born June 26, 1918, in Meyer, Iowa, to Thomas and Gertrude (Kloeckner) Theobald. She married Roy Smith on Feb. 14, 1939, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Meyer, Iowa. Helen and Roy farmed in the Adams, Minnesota, area where they raised their five children.

Helen was a hard-working farm wife and homemaker and enjoyed gardening. In 1981, they moved into Adams and in 1988, they moved to Rochester where Helen began working at the Econo Foods Bakery, a job she loved and worked at until she was 80 in 1999. Helen has lived in Stewartville since 2009.

She was an excellent cook, seamstress and “hostess with the mostess,” sharing treats and goodies with neighbors and friends. Helen enjoyed playing bingo and making an occasional trip to a casino. Helen was a devoted Catholic woman and active in her church with the CCW, knitting mittens and making rosaries. She was also a volunteer at Assisi Heights.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Roy; grandson Joe David Smith; three brothers: Paul, Walter, and Clem; five sisters: Mary, Isabelle, Rosella, Marcella, and Sister Angelita.

Helen is survived by her children: David (Jurine) Smith, Adams, Minnesota, Doris Butler, Prior Lake, Minnesota, Leon (Konnie) Smith, Eden Prairie, Minnesota, Emily (Mike) Kiefer, Stewartville, Minnesota, Peggy (Scott) Fontana, Lakeville, Minnesota; nine grandchildren: Lon Smith, Rod Smith, Ryan Smith, Gala Smith Witt, Kim Jensen, Shane Butler, Andy Smith, Cathy Hoy and Sarah Fontana; 18 great-grandchildren; 10 great-great-grandchildren; a great-great-great-grandson; sisters-in-law: Marita Michels, Adams, Minnesota, and Marcella Smith, Adams, Minnesota; nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2014, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Adams with Father Swaminatha Pothireddy officiating. Interment will be in the Sacred Heart Cemetery. There will be a 4 p.m. Rosary and a 6:30 p.m. prayer service on Monday at the Adams Funeral Home where friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. and there will also be visitation from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the funeral home on Tuesday.

Source: Austin Daily Herald, 28 DEC 2014