Ethel Smith

Ethel ?Mikki? M. Smith, 56, of Staples, died June 18, 2005, at Fairview University Hospital, Minneapolis, while waiting for a lung transplant.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, June 24, at Brenny Funeral Home Chapel in Staples with Rev. Roy Miles officiating.

Ethel ?Mikki? Smith was born January 12, 1949, in Staples to Philomine and Earl Smith. She graduated from Staples High School in 1967; she moved to the Twin Cities to work for about 10 years and returned to her hometown area.

She loved family gatherings, tubing down the river, and playing cards. Later in life she loved more than anything, her grandchildren; watching them play, grow and just being around them made her happy.

Mikki is survived by two daughters, Desiree (Jeffrey) Hillman; Danielle (Roger) Soderberg; both of Elk River and five grandchildren; four sisters, Mary (Matt) Heltemes, Glena, Missouri; Joyce (Larry) Garland, Slayton; Karen (Harold) Duda, Rapid City, South Dakota; Claudia Craft, Pillager; three brothers, Eugene (Darlene) Smith; George Smith; Greg (Becky) Smith all of Staples; one sister-in-law, Nancy (Smith) Foudray, Viola, Wisconsin; and many nieces and nephews, relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, one brother, Dennis Smith.