Bette Smith

Bette Smith

February 26, 1927 – March 10, 2011
Grinnell, Iowa

Visitation: 3:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., with the family present to greet friends from 4:30 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. A scripture service will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, March 18, 2011 at Smith Funeral Home in Grinnell
Funeral Service: 10:30 a.m., Saturday, March 19, 2011 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Grinnell
Interment: following her service on Saturday March 19, 2011 at Hazelwood Cemetery in Grinnell

Memorials: St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Mayflower Community Human Needs Fund, or to Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Bette was born on February 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, she received her teaching certificate from Clarke College in Dubuque. She taught in Belle Plaine, Iowa and in 1949, she moved to Grinnell and taught at Davis School and the former Parker School.

On July 18, 1951, she was united in married 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 very busy with her children’s activities through their college years. She was a Cub Scout Den Mother and a Camp Fire leader.

Bette enjoyed reading, especially biographies, collecting rabbit figurines, playing bridge, decorating her home for the holidays and family functions, and traveling throughout the United States and Europe. Her grandchildren and great grandchildren were the light of her life. 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, Minnesota; twelve grandchildren, Joel, Ryan, Eric, Grant, Alex, Lauren, Jeff, Julie and Robbie Smith, Scott and Sarah Roland, and Alyssa Om’Iniabohs; four great grandchildren, Taylor, Kaitlyn, Gavin and Jacob; and one brother, Tom Wallace of Woodburn, Oregon. She was preceded in death by her parents and one brother, Richard Wallace.

Source: Smith Funeral Home