Marian C. Smith

Marian C. Smith, age 93, of Rice Lake, WI died Thursday, June 25, 2015 in Fountain Hills.

She was born on April 3, 1922 in Shell Lake, Wis. to Peder and Margaret (Hatlen) Pederson. Marian graduated from Shell Lake High School in 1940. She worked in Indiana at Lever Brothers for a few years before her marriage to Fred Smith on July 20, 1946 in Shell Lake.

They were in the furniture business in Renville, Fairfax and Wadena, Minn. before coming to Rice Lake in 1960 where they owned and operated Smith Furniture until 1984 when their daughter and son-in-law bought the store. Fred and Marian had the best of both worlds by spending their summers in Wisconsin and winters in Fountain Hills.

Marian was a member of Rice Lake Fortnightly, PEO sisterhood, an active member of the First United Methodist Church in Rice Lake. Marian loved to play bridge and garden and especially loved to be with her family and friends.

Marian Smith is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Harriet and Dale Larson of Rice Lake, /Fountain Hills; two sons and daughters-in-law, David Smith (Karen Berkowitz) of Fountain Hills, and Karl and Suzie Smith of Gig Harbor, Wash.; five grandchildren, Donna, Ben, Robert, Kory and Jake; five great-grandchildren; a sister, Hazel Whittler of Tampa, Fla.; a brother, Peder Pederson of Shell Lake, Wis.; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Fred Smith in 2006; her parents, Peder and Margaret Pederson; three sisters, Harriet Pederson, Pauline Turpin and Margaret Lobnitz; three brothers, Arvid, Floyd and Wendell Pederson.

Funeral Services are scheduled for Monday, July 6, 2015 at the First United Methodist Church in Rice Lake, Wis., Rev. James Altman officiating, with interment in the Shell Lake Cemetery. Visitation is also Monday, July 6, 2015 at the First United Methodist Church in Rice Lake. Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Appleyard’s Home for Funerals, 19 W. Messenger St., Rice Lake, Wis.

Memorials may go to the First United Methodist Church in Rice Lake and Hospice of the Valley in Phoenix, AZ.