Russell Ino Smid

Russell I. Smid, 85, of Fort Dodge passed away Tuesday, May 13, 2014 at Trinity Regional Medical Center. Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday, May 16, 2014 at First United Methodist Church with Rev. Andrea Kraushaar officiating. Burial will follow at North Lawn Cemetery where military rites will be presented by the VFW Post 1856. Friends may call after 2:00 p.m. on TODAY at Laufersweiler-Sievers Funeral Home. Russell is survived by his wife, Ruth; sister-in-law and friend, Grace (Theis) Noll and her husband Erv of St. Louis, MO; sister, Betty Walters and her husband Matt of West Covina, CA; niece, Elaine- (Tom) Peters of Wichita, KS; nephews, David Huntley of Bend, OR; James Huntley of Wichita, KS and niece, Maxanne Stevens of Mesa, AZ. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ino and Dorothy (Cochran) Smid; and sister, Aneta VanSckle. Russell Ino Smid was born March 7, 1929 in Coon Rapids. He graduated from Rodman High school in 1946. Russell attended junior college in Emmetsburg. In 1947, when Russell moved to Fort Dodge he fell in love with the chimes at First United Methodist Church, where he was a member for over 65 years and part of the Men's Club. On December 10, 1950 Russell was united in marriage to Ruth Theis at St. Paul Lutheran Church and the couple made Fort Dodge their home. Russell work for US Gypsum until 1958. He and Ruth then owned and operated fort Dodge Motel from 1958 - 1962. He then became a realtor and started Smid Reality. The couple continued to own and operate various motels throughout Iowa. Russell served in the United States Army during the Korean conflict from 1951-1953. Besides working with artillery he also taught G.I classes in Germany to fellow soldiers. Russell took great pride in being a part of the Brushy Creek Honor Flight in May 2013, where he traveled to Washington D.C with guardian, Orlin Olson. Russell and Ruth also loved to winter in Alamo, Texas starting in 1992 and they also were members of the Winnebago Club. Russell had a love for antique and classic cars. He won grand prize for his 1937 Cord-Phaton at the Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg Club. He was a member of the Niapara Car Club, Boone Car Club, and a past member of the Packard Car Club and the Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg Club. Russell was also a past Big Brother, where he loved to bring kids to car shows. Memorial may be left to the discretion of the family. Visitation Thu, May 15, 2014 at 2:00 pm Laufersweiler-Sievers Funeral Home 307 South 12th Street Fort Dodge, Iowa 50501 Service Fri, May 16, 2014 at 10:30 am First United Methodist Church