Dorothy Smith
May 28, 1929 ~ March 30, 2020
Dorothy May Smith age 90 of Plainfield, IA died Monday, March 30, 2020 at the Shell Rock Healthcare Center.
A private family funeral service will be held 10:30 a.m. Thursday, April 2, 2020 at St. John Lutheran Church in Nashua, IA with Rev. Charis Combs-Lay celebrating the service. Interment will follow at Greenwood Cemetery in Nashua. PLEASE JOIN THE FAMILY THURSDAY AT 10:30 A.M. VIA FACEBOOK LIVE ON THE HUGEBACK-JOHNSON FUNERAL HOMES FACEBOOK PAGE.
641-435-4134.
Dorothy May Smith was born May 28, 1929 in Chickasaw County, Iowa, the daughter of Harley and Gertrude (Dornbusch) Dietz. She attended country school in Horton through the eighth grade and graduated from Waverly High School in 1947. She then graduated from the Iowa State Teachers College in 1949 with a two year teaching certificate.
On May 29, 1949 she married Keith Smith at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Waverly, where she was baptized and confirmed as a young girl. She met Keith at a dance in Nashua in the spring of 1947. To this union four sons were born.
She taught school at Janesville from 1949-1950 and the couple began farming in February of 1951 near Nashua. In 1958 (two moves later) they located permanently on a farm just north of Horton.
After the four boys were in school she resumed teaching at Tripoli from 1968 – 1991. During this time she earned her Bachelors Degree by attending summer classes at Wartburg College.
During her life, she was very active in several organizations, including her church, St. John Lutheran Church in Nashua. Volunteering was also very important to Dorothy. She enjoyed playing cards, entertaining, and was a diligent shopper at sales and auctions. She was an avid antique collector and had a strong interest in local history and genealogy.
Dorothy is survived by three sons, Kreg Smith of Plainfield, IA, Kelly (Cheryl) Smith of Plainfield, IA, Kevin (Diane) Smith of Plainfield, IA; five grandchildren, Kimberly (Nick) Post of Fayette, IA, Brian Smith of Cedar Falls, IA, Erin (Jim) Pratt of Nashua, IA, Cole Smith of Naperville, IL, Caleb Smith of Kansas City, MO; three great-grandchildren, Madison Pratt, Landon Pratt, Jalynn Pratt; two brothers, Dean Dietz of Horton, Eugene (Mary Anne) Dietz of Farmington, MN; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Tod (Letha) Smith, Jeff (Rose) Smith, Vivian Carter, Hattie Pyatt, Janice Feldman, Elva Spetz, Barb (Gene) Maakestad; many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Keith Smith in 1989; one son, Kent Smith in 1990; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Lorraine Dietz, Mary Jean (Bob) McGrath, David (Lorraine) Smith, Bill Carter, Don Schultz, Melbourne Havig, Chuck Pyatt, Ken Feldman, Bill Spetz.
Memorials may be directed to St. John Lutheran Church in Nashua.
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So sorry for your loss
I include the Smith family in thought and prayer.
Our heartfelt sympathy at the loss of your Mom and grandmother. Remembering you in our thoughts and prayers at this difficult time. Sincerely , Charlie & Twila
Thinking of of your family at this time and remembering the times at the Big 4 Fair in “Harold’s ” building taking in fair entries with her. Christine Siemons
My condolences to the family of my Aunt Dorothy Smith. We all mourn her passing. I remember that she was a gracious and generous host to the McGrath kids who spent time at her home when we visited Iowa.She was also a good wife and mother. Kevin McGrath
My condolences to Mrs. Smith’s family and friends. She was my teacher in Tripoli and she was great at what she did. She always remembered me when we saw each other. That just amazed me.
My condolences to Mrs. Smith’s family and friends. She was my teacher in Tripoli and she was great at what she did. She always remembered me when we saw each other. That just amazed me.
She was one of a kind! She loved to antique, garden, play cards, often cussed under her breath, and she knew most everyone in all the surrounding cemeteries! She gave me a bottle lamb to raise when I was young and she never missed a birthday of mine…always tucking a vintage hanky inside the card. She was a gem. She was a great cook, had a great sense of humor and would pop in to say hello which meant the world to most. I miss you already, Aunt Dorothy!
Deepest sympathy to Dorothy’s family.
Sorry for your loss Dorothy was a very Special Lady. She taught me so much about the Horton Cemetery. After I became President of the Cemetery she and I would walk throw the Cemetery, she could tell me who was related to who where thy lived an how many kids they had. Dorothy was a member of the Horton Cemetery Society for many years. I wish I had her memory. Leland & Pat Zwanziger We gave a Memorial Gift to the Horton Cemetery in her Name
So sorry to read of Dorothy’s passing. I use to teach with her in Tripoli and just a few years ago we played bridge together in a Plainfield group. My sincere sympathy to Dorothy’s family.