Hester Smith

Hester K. Smith, age 92, of Corinna Township, Maple Lake, died Friday, October 5, 2018 at the Annandale Care Center.

Funeral Services will be held 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, October 9, 2018 at Silver Creek Community Church, Silver Creek Township, Maple Lake. Rev. Luke Baehr will officiate. Burial will follow at Lakeview Cemetery near Maple Lake. Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. Monday at Dingmann Funeral Care Chapel, Annandale and one hour prior to the service, Tuesday, at the church. A prayer service will be held 7:00 p.m. Monday at the funeral chapel.

Hester Smith was born January 10, 1926 in Doon, IA to Albert and Louisa (Hiemstra) Kuiper. She grew up in Doon, IA and attended school in Perkins, IA. On October 19, 1945, she was united in marriage to Henry William Smith in Maple Lake. In addition to caring for her family at the farm, Hester worked as a custodian for 24 years at Silver Creek Community Church in Maple Lake. She was a member of the Silver Creek Community Church, formerly known as the Silver Creek Reformed Church. Hester served as a Sunday School teacher and was a part of the church's Women's Ministry. She enjoyed reading and was a gracious host inviting family and friends into their home. She always offered food to all who came; everyone had to eat to make her happy.

She is survived by her husband of nearly 73 years, Henry; children Herbert (Joyce) Smith of Maple Lake, Albert (Beth) Smith of Brooklyn Park, LaVonne (Willis) VanDorp of Buffalo, Jan (Bruce) Petz of Eden Prairie, Deborah (Gary) Halbert of Georgetown, TX, Barbara (Don) Carter of Shawnee, OK and Lawrence (Jodi) Smith of Maple Lake; 17 grandchildren Angie (John) Schloo, Sarah Smith (Eugene Goldmund), Molly (Don) Johnson, Mark Smith, Jennie (Chris) Herbst, Katie Smith, Elisa Ann, Jessica (Matthew) O'Connell, Andrew (Sarah) Petz, Hans (Rachel) Halbert, Nicole (Jeremy) Pater, Joni (Bob) Kedrowski, Alyson Heath, Craig Heath, Matthew Smith (fiance Tawnya Jacobson), Ben Smith and Jackie Smith (fiance Patrick Neumann); 28 great grandchildren; brothers and sisters John (Joyce) Kuiper of Grand Rapids, MI, Thelma (Vern) Vandergon of Maple Lake, Willis Kuiper of Kentwood, MI, JoAnne (Harold) Miersma of Kentwood, MI, Lori Vellinga of Grandville, MI, Albertha Kuiper of Dallas, TX and Annie (Ken) Ensing of Kentwood, MI; sisters-in-law Sadie Kuiper of Grand Rapids, MI and Ann Kooiman of Richmond, VA. She is preceded in death by her parents, sister Dorothy Schut; and brothers Henry Kuiper and Bert Kuiper.

Hester's grandsons will serve as casket bearers and her granddaughters will serve as honorary casket bearers. Orma Lou Jacobsma and Jane Mol will provide the music for the service. Arrangements are entrusted with Dingmann Funeral Care Burial & Cremation Services of Annandale.

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