Mabel S. Smith

Mabel Susan Smith, 91 died Sunday, May 28, 2023 at the Tieszen Memorial Nursing Home in Marion, SD.  Funeral services will be 11:00am on Saturday, June 17, 2023 at Komstad Covenant Church, 29987 University Road, rural Beresford, SD with burial in the church cemetery.  Visitation will be from 4-7pm Friday evening, June 16, 2023 at the Tieszen Memorial Home Chapel with a Prayer Service at 7:00pm.

Mabel Susan Smith (Bailey) was born to Brasier and Susan Bailey (Newhall) on February 28th, 1932. She grew up with her parents and older sister Abbie, on a farm/homestead near Fort Benton, MT. She was active in a neighborhood church, which met in the rural schoolhouse. She also attended school in this same one-room schoolhouse until 7th grade.

Growing up homesteading, during the Great Depression, Mabel learned the importance of God, family, hard work and reusing almost everything. She learned to recycle before it was even a term. It was during these early years that Mabel asked Jesus to take control of her life.

Mabel continued her education by attending grades 8-12 in Fort Benton, MT. She graduated from there and went on to college at Seattle Pacific in Seattle, WA. In 1954 she received a four-year teaching degree, but there was another important benefit from college. In her senior year, while she was a school librarian, she was introduced to Gilbert Smith. Mabel was impressed by this stunning young man but refused to get married until she returned to MT to spend one year teaching in a school near her parent’s farm. She wanted to thank them for the huge sacrifices they made to help her graduate from college. Gilbert made the wait less difficult by flying his Cessna 140 airplane out to MT. He often landed in a hayfield by the back door of the house. His first visit, by plane, caused quite a stir among the neighbors.

Gilbert and Mabel got married on July 22nd, 1955 in Great Falls, MT. Then they moved to Bloomington, MN where they bought their lifelong home. In the following years, they shared their time living in Bloomington with their second home at the Newhall homestead near Marion, SD. They enjoyed being part of Bloomington Covenant Church in MN and Komstad Covenant Church in SD.

A joyous addition was made to the Smith family when their children, Edwin and Susan, were born. Years later Mabel was equally excited when four grandchildren joined the family. Mabel loved being a Mother/Grandmother, but she was also passionate about teaching other children. She enjoyed several different elementary teaching positions in Richfield and Bloomington. Then she ended her career by teaching at and later directing a Christian Preschool at Bloomington Covenant Church.

Although Mabel loved teaching, she was first of all devoted to God, and then her husband and family. She was a dedicated homemaker who enjoyed cooking, gardening, camping and animals. She especially enjoyed growing flowers and sharing the bouquets. Mabel’s love and kindness flowed freely. She had a deep care and concern for everyone. She was continually checking up on her family and friends and enjoyed offering a listening ear.

Mabel trusted in God, and He used her as a beautiful shinning light to brighten this world. Although she did many good things, Mabel was confident that she could never earn the right to live eternally with a perfect and holy God. Her confidence was in trusting Jesus to be her Savior and Lord. The righteousness of Jesus was upon Mabel as she was welcomed into her heavenly home on May 28th, 2023.

She was preceded in death by her parents Brasier and Susan Bailey, sister Abbie Riley, brother-in-law Donald Smith and grandchildren Benjamin and Lydia Kes. Those left to cherish her memory include, her husband of 68 years, Gilbert Smith, sister-in-law Alice Smith, children Edwin Smith and Susan Kes (husband Doug) and grandchildren Abbie and Caleb Kes.