Elsie Florence Smith

ELSIE FLORENCE SMITH was born to Joe and Nellie (Schut) Tubergen on March 31, 1917 in Leota, Minnesota. She was raised on several farms in the area by Leota, Edgerton, Chandler, and Woodstock, Minnesota, and she attended country school. After she completed the eighth grade, she moved with her parents to a farm south of Ruthton, Minnesota. While living there, she worked in several homes doing housekeeping. She also worked in Gambers Dry Goods and Grocery Store in Ruthton. On March 14, 1941, she was united in marriage to Albert Smith at the church parsonage in Holland, Minnesota. Following their marriage, they moved onto a farm in Fountain Prairie Township of Pipestone County, Minnesota. During this time, Elsie raised their three children and helped with the farm work. After their retirement in 1988, Elsie and Al moved to Pipestone, Minnesota. After 61 years of marriage Al preceded her in death on September 23, 2002. Following his death, Elsie continued to reside in Pipestone. In 2007 she became a resident of Ridgeview Estates where she enjoyed spending time with her friends.

Elsie was baptized in April, 1917, at the Christian Reformed Church in Leota, Minnesota. She made her Profession of Faith in the Spring of 1937 at the Christian Reformed Church in Holland, Minnesota, and she remained an active member of this church. During her lifetime, she taught Sunday School, she sang in the church choir, she was a member of the Ladies Aid, and she attended various Bible study groups. She enjoyed playing the piano, sewing, crocheting, gardening, camping, playing cards, putting together puzzles, doing crossword puzzles, and spending time with her family. As a child, she and her siblings made play houses in the grove.

On Christmas Day, December 25, 2013, Elsie passed away at the Pipestone County Medical Center at the age of 96 years, 8 months, and 24 days. She was surrounded by her loving family.

She is lovingly remembered by her three children, Alger Smith and his wife Marilyn of Pipestone, Minnesota, Nancy Johnson of Lake Benton, Minnesota, and Gary Smith and his wife Evie of Paynesville, Minnesota; nine grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; and one sister, Hattie Van Heerde. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; her grandson, Jason Smith; her son-in-law, Steve Johnson; four brothers, Alfred, Gerrit, Henry, and Fred Tubergen; and two sisters, Fannie Miersma and Helen Top.