LOIS ELAINE BEIRLEIN SMITH
LOIS ELAINE BEIRLEIN SMITH
Lois Elaine Bierlein Smith was born in her parent’s farm home in Harrison County, Missouri, near Andover, on November 3, 1931 to Jacob and Bertha Stoll Bierlein. She departed this life January 23, 2016 at Oakridge Nursing Home in Plattsburg, Missouri.
Lois completed Jake and Bertha’s family being welcomed by her big brother, Don. Bertha was happy as she dearly wanted a little girl. Lois received her education at the Andover school and then graduated from high school in Lamoni, Iowa.
Lois married Ronald Eugene Smith on May 28, 1951 and moved to his family’s century farm northwest of Lamoni. Lois and Ronald had two children; Sandra Jo and Rodney Eugene.
Lois was a partner in the farming operation helping wherever she was needed. Many folks put their feet under her kitchen table especially enjoying her fried chicken and home grown vegetables.
Ron and Lois started a bi-weekly egg route in Lamoni delivering fresh eggs door to door. Lois also raised sheep. She loved the lambing season and a favorite family memory is of grandma in her coveralls heading to the barn with milk bottles to supplement the little lambs.
Family was important to Lois, and she was excited to welcome her grandchildren and great grandchildren and attend their birthday parties and school programs.
Easter was her holiday when the family gathered at the farm and enjoyed a wonderful meal and hunted the hidden Easter eggs in the yard. She was delighted at the first lawn mowing in the spring and spying one of her missing Easter eggs.
Another important date in her life was Memorial weekend when the Bierlein cousins would meet for a yearly reunion at her home. Lois loved family.
Those preceding Lois in death were her husband, Ronald; brother Don; sisters-in-law Shirley and Rita; son-in-law Marion West; and grandson Bradley West.
Lois is survived by her daughter Sandi and her husband Richard Mandell and their children Catherine Meisenheimer, Mark and Pam Mandell, Mathew and P.J., Olivia and Sophia West; her son Rod and wife Connie and their children Willie Godden, Eric and Erikka Godden, Alyssa and Duncan Blount, Austin Godden, Angie and Mike, Malcom and Mason Mercer, Jodi and Rich, Briana and Dawson Hensley; and a host of friends that were like family to Lois.
Memorials are to Three River’s Hospice. Watson-Armstrong Funeral Home in Mount Ayr is in charge of the arrangements.
Services were held at Trinity Christian Church at Decatur City, Iowa on Wednesday, January 27, 2016 at 11 a.m. with Rev. Terry Roberts officiating. Casketbearers were Mathew West, Mark Mandell, Catherine Meisenheimer, Briana Hensley, Malcom Mercer and Mason Mercer. Burial is at the Rose Hill Cemetery at Lamoni, Iowa.
