Elaine Mildred Smith, age 91 of Howard Lake, passed away on October 28, 2024 at home. She was born August 4th, 1933 to William and Lydia Westphal Frank on the family farm southwest of Howard Lake. She was the youngest of 4 siblings. She attended Merriman County School, St. James School, and Howard Lake High School graduating in 1950. She then accepted a job as secretary at the Howard Lake School and worked there for 9 years, through consolidation of the country schools and building the new school in 1955, which was demolished in 2015.
Elaine married Everrett Smith June 28th, 1957, moving to the Smith Family Farm west of Howard Lake in 1958. Together they raised three children, farmed the land, and had an egg business for many years. Many people came to the farm to buy “farm fresh eggs”. She was active in the Presbyterian Church, serving as church treasurer, a trustee, and in the women’s group. She also served as an on-call babysitter for her grandchildren as needed. She was always working on projects from sewing quilts to business suits for her girls to mending jeans. Her kitchen usually smelled of fresh baked bread and desserts and her grandchildren could always count on cookies in the cookie jar. She remained on the farm until March of 2019, when she moved to Edgewood Gables apartments in Cokato.
Preceded in death by her parents, husband Everrett, siblings: Orville Frank, Verna Mulvanny and Melvin Frank.
Survived by son Larry (Laurie) Smith, daughter Jeanne (David) Mages, and daughter Debbie (David) Honebrink. Seven grandchildren: Ryan Smith, Kyle (Alicia) Smith, Chelsea (David) Buttenhoff, Trevor (Catheryn) Mages, Cassie (Cal) Sleiter, Danny Mages and Jason Honebrink, seven great-grandchildren with two more on the way, as well as many nieces and nephews.
Funeral Services are Friday, November 1, 2024 at 2:00 pm at First Presbyterian Church in Howard Lake, with visitation one hour prior.