Hilda B. Smidt

Born July 2, 1908 - Died January 30, 2013

Hilda was born on July 2, 1908, in Webster City, Iowa. She was the daughter of Jake and Hannah Tapper. Hilda attended local schools there; she always loved music. Her hope was to teach music, but after World War I, she postponed that desire to help her parents survive the depression and volunteered to stay home to help her parents farm. She also loved bookkeeping and was able to apply to the American School in Chicago, IL where she received her certification. In 1924, she met John H. Smidt of Des Moines, IA and they married in 1941. John served in the Army three years; after the war, they made their home in Des Moines. They then had two sons; John R. and James A. and moved to Urbandale. John passed away in 1975, and Hilda continued to live in the home they built together until she was 103.

Hilda was preceded in death by her parents, Jake and Hannah Tapper and her siblings: Walter, Harold and Melbourne. She is survived by her sons, John (Donna) and James (Sharolyn); six grandchildren: Scott; Greg and his wife Misty; Jeff and his wife Ashling; Todd and his wife Shanna; Alec and his wife Alissa; Carmella and her husband Jim Tisdale. She is also survived by six great-grandchildren: Kaden, Jaren and Kiara Smidt; Benjamin and Timothy Smidt; Ayana Tisdale; her sister, Ruth Roline; five nieces: Rita (Dave) Miller, Joni Roline, Roberta Johnson, Barbara (Ed) Neibauer and Jeanne (John) Langeland; one nephew, Bob (Linda) Christianson and a host of other relatives and friends.