Mildred Josephine "Millie" Smith 1925 - 2007

SMITH, HUMPAL, BOUSKA

Posted By: Connie Swearingen- Volunteer (email)
Date: 1/13/2017 at 21:22:15

Sioux City Journal
5 December 2007

Mildred Josephine "Millie" Smith, 82, of Sioux City went to be with her Savior Monday, Dec. 3, 2007, at Sunrise Retirement Community following a lengthy illness.

Memorial services will be 2 p.m. Friday at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, with the Rev. Merlin Schrad officiating. The body was cremated. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, with a Catholic Daughters of America rosary at 4 p.m., the family present 6 to 8 p.m. and a vigil service at 7 p.m., at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel. Condolences may be sent online to http://www.meyerbroschapels.com">www.meyerbroschapels.com.

Mildred was born in 1925 in Wagner, S.D. to Louis and Katherine (Humpal) Bouska. After high school, she earned a teaching certificate and taught in a one-room schoolhouse for all eight grades. She attended Yankton College, where she met the love of her life, James L. Smith of Yankton, S.D. They were married on Dec. 7, 1946. they made their home in various towns in South Dakota and finally Sioux City.

She was primarily a homemaker, but she had careers in teaching, J.C. Penney's and real estate sales.

She had many interests and talents. She was a seamstress, making many of her own and her children's clothes. She also was very talented in writing poetry and funny skits for special events at the church league or for family events. She loved to bake for her family. Along with the usual cookies, desserts and cakes, she carried on a Czech tradition of baking Kollaches and Roleckas. Her cinnamon rolls and bread were the best.

She loved her husband and family the most. She loved plants and flowers, any sports her husband or children played or coached. She was a lifelong Chicago Cubs fan. She loved to dance and sing. She had been a member of the Boat Club/Dakota Dunes Country Club. She was ever the competitor and played a respectable game. She also was an avid bridge player.

She had a wonderful sense of humor. She made every family event a party. The holidays were most special, Christmas, Easter, 4th of July, Halloween and Thanksgiving. Every child's or grandchild's birthday was remembered and made special.

In her retirement years with her husband, they traveled across America. They especially loved to visit their out of town children in Chicago and Minneapolis.

She will always be remembered for her laughter, love of life and great strength of will. She was firm in her beliefs. She loved Jesus and relied on him. She gave her children all of her devotion and love. Most notable, was the love of her and her husband, Jim. They went everywhere together. Never wavering of their love for one another.

She is survived by her husband, Jim of Sioux City; three sons and daughters-in-law, Kevin and Debbie Smith of Sioux City, Shannon Smith and his fiancee, Jenny Beck of Sioux City and Colin and Laura Smith of Savannah, Ga.; four daughters and sons-in-law, Lorie and Keith Drayton of Savannah, Ga., Collette and Jim McCullough of Sioux City, Shavonne and Joe Kopal of Sioux City and Mary and Chris Doerr of Chicago, Ill.; her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Becky and Ben Bruneau, Alex and Jennifer Smith and their sons, Ryan and Dylan, Eric Smith, Tom and Jackie Smith, Jake Smith, Flynn McCullough, Brigid McCullough, Gabe Beck, Katie and Josie Kopal, Stacie and Samantha Smith, Dan and Jessica Doerr; a brother, Elmer Bouska of Sioux City; many nieces and nephews; and many wonderful friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; three infant children; a sister, Agnes; her brothers, Louis and Charles; three nephews; and a grandniece.

Honorary pallbearers will be Ben Bruneau, Alex, Eric, Tom and Jake Smith, Flynn McCullough, Gabe Beck and Dan Doerr.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Sunrise Manor in honor of their devotion, love and wonderful care of our mother.