Smith, Bette J. 1927-2011

SMITH, KEEFE, WALLACE, ROLAND, OMINIABOHS

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes
Date: 7/25/2014 at 15:53:15

The Grinnell (IA) Herald-Register
March 14, 2011

BETTE J. SMITH

Bette j. Smith, 84, of Grinnell, died on Thursday, March 10, 2011, at Mayflower Community Health Care Center.

Mass of the Resurrection will be 10:30 a.m., Saturday, March 19, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Grinnell with Rev. Nick Adam officiating.

Music will be provided by Marilyn Kriegel, organist and St. Mary's Choir. Casket bearers will be her grandchildren, Joel Smith, Ryan Smith, Eric Smith, Grant Smith, Alex Smith, Lauren Smith, Scott Roland, Sarah Roland, Jeff Smith, Julie Smith, Rob Smith and Alyssa Om'Iniabohs. Interment will be at Hazelwood Cemetery in Grinnell.

Friends may call at the Smith Funeral Home beginning 3 p.m. on Friday and the family will be present at the funeral home from 4 to 6:30 p.m. on Friday.

A scripture service will be held at 6:30 p.m., Friday, at the funeral home.

Memorials may be directed to St. Mary's Catholic Church, the Mayflower Human Needs Fund or to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, sent in care of the Smith Funeral Home, PO Box 368, Grinnell, Iowa 50112.

Bette was born Feb. 26, 1927, in Gilmore City, Iowa, to Charles and Sarah "Sadie" Keefe Wallace. She attended St. John's Catholic School and graduated as Valedictorian from Gilmore City High School with the Class of 1944. She attended the University of Wisconsin and in 1946, received her teaching certificate from Clarke College in Dubuque. She taught in Belle Plaine, and in 1949, moved to Grinnell and taught at Davis School and the former Parker School.

On July 18, 1951, she was united in marriage to Robert D. Smith at St. John's Catholic Church in Gilmore City. The couple resided in Grinnell and she became a full-time homemaker and mother of five children. Her children were all born within seven years, so she was busy with her children's activities through their college years, including serving as a Cub Scout Den Mother and a Camp Fire leader.

Bette was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Grinnell and the Altar and Rosary Society of the church. She was also a member of the Priscilla Club and the Marian Study Club. She enjoyed reading, collecting rabbit figurines, playing bridge, decorating her home for the holidays and family functions, travel, and especially her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

She moved to the Mayflower Community in 2003 and has resided in the Mayflower Health Care Center since 2008.

She is survived by her children, John R. Smith, Dr. David M. Smith and William D. Smith, all of Grinnell, Nancy A. Roland of Cedar Rapids and Mary S. Smith of Chanhassen, Minn.; twelve grandchildren; four great grandchildren; and one brother, Tom Wallace of Woodburn, Ore.

She was preceded in death by her parents and one brother, Richard Wallace.