Della Anna Smith

Della Anna Smith, the daughter of Edward L. and Barbara Anna (Lembke) Riepe, was born on the family farm west of Griswold on July 20, 1923. She died April 13, 2014 at the Griswold Care Center in Griswold, IA, at the age of 90 years, 8 months, and 24 days.

Della attended country school and then graduated from Griswold High School. On January 5, 1941, she was united in marriage to Ernest Merle Smith. Five children were born to this union. Merle died in 1989.

Della was employed at for several years at the Union Carbide Plant in Red Oak and The Truck Stop in Griswold. She enjoyed belonging to the neighborhood Get Together Club, Rebekah Lodge, and the Central Church of Christ, where she enjoyed singing in the choir for many years. After the family was grown and gone, they enjoyed their winters in Arizona. They lived their married life on the family farm and in Griswold, except for a few years in Atlantic. Her greatest joy was the time she spent with her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great great grandchildren.

Della is preceded in death by her husband, Merle; and infant son, Robert; a daughter and her husband, Barbara and Larry Schuler; her sisters: Ione Riepe, Margarite Ackerman, and Helen Watkins; her brother Lawrence Riepe; and her good friend Al Strobhehn.

She is survived by her children: Larry Smith and wife Barbara of rural Griswold, IA Carolyn Rossell and husband Marlin of rural Lewis and Edward Smith and wife Denise of Fort Dodge, IA; her grandchildren: Diane Smith, Elaine Knutson, David Smith, Michael Smith, Laurie Andersen, Patty Fannon, Jeanna Wasenius, Angie Timm, Doug Rossell, Dan Rossell, Shannon McQuillen, and Ryan Smith; thirty-seven great grandchildren; and three great great grandchildren.