Smith, Belva (Manning) 1921 - 2021

SMITH, MANNING, MCINTIRE, HUTCHINSON, MCGEE

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 10/2/2021 at 12:19:40

Belva (Manning) Smith passed away peacefully at her home on Sept 28, 2021, with her daughter by her side.

She was born on Sept. 19, 1921, at her parents’ home in Hesper township to Vernon and Myrtle (McIntire) Manning. Belva was the youngest of 3 children. She attended school at a one-room schoolhouse through 8th grade. She cleaned homes for several years before she met her lifelong partner, George William Smith at the Little Ole Show in Matters Ballroom in 1937. She tells the story of how she was wearing red shoes the first time they met, which was quite daring at that time. They married on Sunday afternoon, Oct 15, 1939, at the Methodist Church Parsonage in Decorah, IA, and made their home together on their Scenic River Rd farm, where they lived the rest of their lives. Together they had 5 children, Bill (Janet), Gerry, Ronnie, Dixie (Tim Hutchinson), and Louann.

Belva enjoyed dancing, cards, and traveling with her husband. She was on a bowling team and won a trophy for high series in her league of which she was very proud of. She was very involved in Winneshiek Saddle Club, Red Hat Society, Joan of Arc, and her church. She farmed alongside George and always had fresh bread baking from her ‘secret recipe’ and sandwiches and lemonade ready to take to the men in the fields. Belva enjoyed quilting, had an extensive scrap booking collection, and never met a pair of pants she couldn’t mend. She was very proud of her children, 13 Grandchildren, 28 great grandchildren and 17 great-great grandchildren.

Proceeding Belva in death are her husband, George, sons Bill and Ronnie, daughter Luann, great grandson Brennan and siblings Arthur Manning, Nina McGee.

On Sept.19, 2021, Belva had her own celebration of life when she hosted her 100th birthday party at Stone Ridge Church. A church service featuring her favorite hymns was held followed by dinner for 200 people where she greeted everyone by name. She concluded the day with a “parade” downtown Decorah in a black corvette convertible driven by her granddaughter, Heather and accompanied by 10 Harley Davidson motorcycles. When on Hwy 9, she told Heather to “step on it’, yup, she did 100mph on her 100th birthday.

A memorial service will be held on Oct. 2 at 1 p.m. on the family farm where she lived for over 80 years.

Source: Decorah Newspapers Sept. 30, 2021