Ardella M. (Olmstead) Smidt

Ardella Mae Smidt, 74, passed away Sunday, April 23, 1995, at the North Iowa Mercy Health Care Center in Mason City. Ardella, the daughter of Percy and Florence (Fuller) Olmstead, was born on July 20, 1920 at Shell Rock, Iowa.  She received her education at the Shell Rock Public Schools graduating in 1938.  After high school she attended Northwestern Bible College in Minneapolis, Minnesota for two years.  She taught bible school while she was in Minnesota.

On February 20, 1943, she was united in marriage with Hensman Smidt in Shell Rock at her parents home.  After their marriage the couple made their home in the Kanawha area.  Ardella was a member of the Kanawha Christian Reformed Church where she was an organist for several years.  She was also a member of the Kanawha Christian Reformed Ladies Aide, the Happy Hour Birthday Club, the North Iowa Ostomy Association of Mason City, where she was currently serving as secretary.  Ardella enjoyed sewing, needle point, collecting salt and pepper shakers and she loved music.

Survivors include her husband, Hensman; her children: Delbert and his wife, Pat of Stafford, Virginia; Donna and her husband, Rev. Larry Meter of Beaver Dam, Wisconsin; Darlene and her husband, Rocky Shipp of Waverly, Iowa; Dean and his wife, Karla of Kanawha, Iowa; seventeen grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; a sister, Lovina Allen of Dallas, Texas; a brother, Mensloe and his wife, Alice Olmstead of Shell Rock, Iowa; three sisters-in-law: Margie Olmstead of Dallas, Texas, Lena and her husband, Vernon Butson of Hampton, Iowa, and Anna and her husband, Robert Stock of Chapin, Iowa.

She was preceded in death by her parents, one son - Duane, a sister - Bernice Olmstead, and two brothers - Lawrence and Charlie.