Funeral Services for Carolyn Smith, age 95 of Ruthven, will be 11:00 AM on Saturday, November 7, 2026 at the Zion Lutheran Church in Ruthven. Visitation will be from 9:30 AM until the time of service on Saturday, November 7, at the church. Burial will take place at Crown Hill Cemetery in Ruthven. Services have been entrusted to Martin Mattice Funeral Home of Ruthven. 

     Carolyn Mehrhof Smith, daughter of Floyd E. Mehrhof and Thalia (Gates) Mehrhof, was born December 28, 1930, in New Brunswick, New Jersey. A modest house in Highland Park, N.J. was home to Carolyn and her younger brother, Ned. One set of grandparents lived in their home with them, while another set lived 40 miles away, visiting on holidays. Both parents taught at nearby Rutgers University. During high school, Carolyn’s father was stationed in Japan with the U.S. Army. She, her brother, and mother drove across the U.S. to board a ship to Japan, living there for one year of school. Driving across the country, Lyn had the opportunity to visit Carleton College in Northfield, MN. She says she chose Carleton for the beauty of the blue sky and the corn fields. There she met her husband of the next 70 years, Bill Smith. They were married on August 11, 1951. The two moved to Oregon for Bill’s internship in ministry, while Lyn finished her senior college year at University of Oregon in Eugene. Two sons were born a year apart while in Eugene, a[er which Bill and Lyn accepted a call to mission work in Tanganyika, E. Africa. After 10 years, the family of now six children returned to the U.S. and se\led primarily in Iowa (Paullina, Mason City, Ruthven).

     While her main occupation was that of Pastor’s Wife, Lyn also worked as a social worker in Mason City and Ruthven. Both Bill and Lyn fully participated in the life of the church, wherever they lived, especially engaged in youth ministry and Bible studies. Lyn loved mornings and music, blessing the home with favorite hymns on the piano. Her greatest joys were in cheerfully serving the family, especially the li\le ones. How she delighted in caring for the grandbabies! She also enjoyed swimming, golfing, countless picnics at their small cabin on Lost Island Lake, and hosRng. She delighted in welcoming anyone that came by, expected or by surprise.

     Carolyn Smith, 95, passed away on October 27th, 2026, at the Care Center in Ruthven, Iowa, surrounded by all six of her children in her last days. She is fondly remembered for her cheerful and generous spirit, and kindness to so many.

     She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Ned Mehrhof, her husband, William Smith, and grandson, Peter Nordwall. She is survived by their six children: Scott (Heidi) Smith, Brent Smith, Greg (Renae) Smith, Rebecca (Kristopher) Hartwig, Susie (Don) Nordwall, and Mary (John) Faulstich. Grandchildren include Beret, Kari, Scott, Tiffany, Jill, Daniel, Jenny, Kirsten, Heidi, Nathan, Johanna, Willy, Rachel, Michelle, and Louis. Great grandchildren are 30.