Marcia M. Smith, 76, of Aurelia passed away on Saturday, June 6, 2026, at Unity Point-Downtown Hospital in Sioux City.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 13, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Aurelia. Rev. Joseph Eggerman will officiate. Burial will be in Pleasant Hill Cemetery at Aurelia. Visitation with the family present will be held on Friday, June 12, from 5-7 p.m. at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Aurelia. There will be a family prayer service at 7 p.m. by Rev. Joseph Eggerman. Boothby Funeral Home of Cherokee is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be left at www.boothbyfuneral.com.
In lieu of flowers the family requests memorials be made in Marcia’s honor to the Aurelia Public Library or St. Paul Lutheran Church Ladies Aid.
Marcia was born on April 22, 1950, to Harvey and Marlene (Godberson) Fick at Cherokee. She attended Willow Community School, graduating in 1968. She attended Northwestern College in Orange City, earning her bachelor’s degree in 1972 and then earned her master’s degree from Northwest Missouri State in 1978.
She was united in marriage to John Smith on Sept. 23, 1978, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Cherokee. Marcia worked as a psychiatric aide for Cherokee Mental Health Institute, taught P.E. at Hartley Community School for six years and then at Alta Community School for two years. She was instrumental in starting the sport of volleyball for girl’s athletics in both the Hartley and Alta school districts. She retired in May 1980 to be a mom and farm wife and also continued to substitute teach, referee volleyball, coach youth sports and was an assistant activity director at Sunset Knoll Nursing Home in Aurelia.
She was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Aurelia. She was active in their Ladies Aid, taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School, was a high school youth leader, VBS craft leader and helped with the Women That Care group. She was a 4-H leader and member of the Red Hat Society. She loved playing in bridge, pinochle and Mahjong clubs.
Marcia was an avid reader, loved spending time and playing with her grandchildren, traveling and especially loved gambling and going to the casino. She loved any card games and playing slot machines.
She was preceded in death by her parents, maternal and paternal grandparents, father-in-law and mother-in-law, brother Tom (Kathy) Fick, and great-niece EmaLeigh Nelson.
Marcia will be lovingly remembered by her husband John Smith of Aurelia; daughters: Molly (Jeff) Stahl of Niantic, Ill.; Jill (Rob) Byers of Cherokee; Mina Saetre (Morten Johansen) of Torvikbukt, Norway; and Christy Leung (Alex Hong) of Shrewsbury, Mass.; nine grandchildren: Madison, Jameson and Morgan Stahl; Blake and Sadie Byers; Dante and Alida Johansen; Aidan and Jaydan Hong; brother Ron (Phyllis) Fick of Paton; sister-in-law Deb (Den) Engdahl of Aurelia; also many nieces, nephews and friends.
