Clarice Smolley died Thursday, May 12, 2016 at Luther Haven Nursing Home in Montevideo at the age of 91.
Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, May 17 at 11:00 AM at Salem Lutheran Church in Montevideo with Rev. Matt Philaya officiating. Interment will be in Sunset Memorial Cemetery. Visitation will be one hour before the services at the church.
Clarice Ailene (Mitling) Smolley was born on October 9, 1924 in Tunsberg Township in Chippewa County, MN to Bennie and Nettie (Christenson) Mitling. She was baptized into the Christian faith on December 21, 1924 and was confirmed at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Montevideo on April 30, 1939. She graduated from Montevideo High School in 1942.
Clarice was united in marriage to Donald Smolley on November 2, 1946 at Minnehaha Lutheran Church in Minneapolis. Together, they lived in Minneapolis and at the lake in Park Rapids until moving back to Montevideo in 1989 to be closer to their family. Clarice loved quilting, crocheting, doing needle point, and knitting. She became a resident of Luther Haven in late October 2016.
Clarice is survived by her son, Craig (Nancy) Smolley of Otsego, MN; two step-granddaughters: Stacey Larsen and Erica (Bryce) Siemback; 4 step-great-grandchildren: Connor and Riley Orrock and Gavin and Casey Siemback; sisters: Adeline Nielsen, Natsy Roudebush, and Carol Buschmann, and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Don in 2009; brothers: Johnnie and Howard Mitling; and sisters: Bernice Larson, Irene Beadle, Beverly Home, and Janis Manska.