Funeral services for Ruth Ellen Smith, age 90, of Sac City, Iowa will be 11 a.m., Friday, May 26, 2023, at the Unity Church in Sac City. Burial will be in the Buena Vista Memorial Park Cemetery, Storm Lake, Iowa. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church Friday. The Farber & Otteman Funeral Home of Sac City is handling the arrangements.
Ruth Smith, age 90 of Sac City, IA, passed away on Sunday, May 21, 2023, at WEL-Life at Alta in Alta, IA. Ruth Ellen Galbraith was born on November 24, 1932, to parents Robert and Florence (Deming) Galbraith in Sac City. She attended country school and then Sac City High School, graduating with the Class of 1950. After graduating, Ruth worked at the local creamery before heading off to Washington, D.C. to do clerical work for the FBI. Ruth then returned to Iowa and attended Drake University for a while and was President of Delta Zeta Sorority while there. She then attended Iowa Lakes Community College.
On June 25, 1955, Ruth married the love of her life, Merlyn Smith, who she met while attending a dance at the Lakewood Ballroom in Lake View, IA. They were married in the First Presbyterian Church where she a life-long member. This union was blessed with five children: Bradley, Russell, Susan, Nancy, and Jack. Together they raised their family on a farm just NE of Newell, IA.
Ruth was a farm wife who was able to stay home to raise her children and loved every minute of it. She was such a positive, outgoing person who liked to keep busy. She had the most beautiful rose bushes and always planted, maintained, and harvested a large garden. She enjoyed sewing and along with gardening, taught her girls these same hobbies. Ruth always enjoyed cattle shows with her kids and later on with her grandkids. Spending time with family truly was at the top of her priority list. She was so proud of them all!
Ruth and Merlyn enjoyed dancing and went to several area dance halls in their younger years. The couple also enjoyed traveling. They traveled throughout the United States and also had a memorable trip to Hawaii. They retired and moved to Sac City in 2010.
Ruth was a member of the Newell Auxiliary and helped at her church with luncheons when needed. She was such a kind soul who will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved her.
She is survived by her children, Bradley (Sara) Smith of New Virginia, IA, Russell Smith of Newell, IA, Susan Smith of Newell, IA, Nancy (Dan) Burkhart of Oto, IA, and Jack (Tami) Smith of Storm Lake, IA; grandchildren Wesley (Meagan) Burkhart of Smithland, IA, Brandon (Samantha) Burkhart of Smithland, IA, Kaitlin (Aric) Traver of Oto, IA, and Elizabeth Smith of Chicago, IL; great-grandchildren Leah, Braxton and Archer Burkhart, Briggs and Blair Burkhart, Ava and Nora Traver; sister-in-law Ann Galbraith of Sac City, IA; many extended family members and friends.
Ruth was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Florence Galbraith; husband Merlyn Smith; siblings Arlene (Leo) Willadson, Gerald (Joann) Galbraith, Merle (Phyllis) Galbraith, LeRoy (Ruth) Galbraith, and James Galbraith.
