Constance Smidt, 80, Albert Lea

Published 9:43 am Monday, November 25, 2013

The funeral service for Constance Carrie Smidt will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Cross of Glory Lutheran Church in Hartland. The Rev. Dennis Frank will officiate. Interment will be in the Hartland Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. today at Bonnerup Funeral Service in Albert Lea and again one hour prior to the service at the church.

Constance Smidt

Connie Smidt died on Friday, Nov. 22, 2013, at St. John’s Lutheran Community in Albert Lea. She was 80 years old.

Born on Jan. 2, 1933, in Waseca County, Connie was the daughter of Morris and Eleanor (Anderson) Berg. She graduated from New Richland High School in 1950. On Aug. 9, 1953, she was united in marriage with Alrich “Ole” Smidt at Trinity Lutheran Church in New Richland. The couple spent several years in Hartland before moving to their farm east of Manchester in 1967. Connie, Ole and their daughters moved to Hayward in 1969 and returned to their farm in 1972 where the family spent many happy years. In 1992 Connie moved to Albert Lea. She spent a year and a half in Lake Mills before moving to St. John’s Lutheran Community where she lived for the past two years.

Her Christian faith and her family were the cornerstones of Connie’s life. She was a longtime member of Cross of Glory Lutheran Church in Hartland where she also served as the church secretary from 1987 to 1998. Connie participated in the church choir, Rachel Circle, WELCA and many Bible studies. Music was a great source of comfort for Connie; she enjoyed playing hymns on the piano. Connie was a very involved mother and grandmother always ready to lend a helping and loving hand. Her family is grateful for her steadfast Christian witness.

Connie is survived by her children Debra (Mike) Gaskill of Lake Mills and Sherri (Todd) Wessels of Austin; grandchildren Kathryn Gaskill of Washington, D.C., Jennifer Gaskill of Hampton, Iowa, Marcus Gaskill of Lake Mills, Brittany (Bradly) Braaten of Austin and Zachary Wessels of Austin; sisters LaVonne (Orland) Lee of Albert Lea and Alice (Gary) Brecke of Buckeye, Ariz.; sisters-in-law Marie Hall of Kanawha, Iowa, and Margaret (Bill) Crumb of Askov; nieces and nephews; and other loving relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by husband, Ole Smidt; son, Mark Smidt; parents Morris and Eleanor Berg; sister and brother-in-law Harriet and Ray Johannsen; brother-in-law and sister-in-law Bud and Gert Smidt; brother-in-law, Garland Hall; and two nephews Spurgeon Smidt and Steve Hall.