Ruth Ellen Galbraith Smith

Was born November 24, 1932, to Robert and Florence Deming Galbraith. Ruth was the fifth of six children born to this Sac County farm family. Her brothers--Gerald, LeRoy, Merle and Jim--all became farmers and raised families in northwest Iowa. Her sister Arlene and her husband became school teachers lived in Des Moines Iowa. Ruth was a curious, fun-loving and active child. She worked in Washington D.C. for the federal government after high school before returning to northwest Iowa to attend college. Ruth and her husband, Merlyn, raised their family on a farm in the Newell area of Buena Vista County in northwest Iowa. Their children are Bradley, Russell, Susan, Nancy and Jack. She was pleased to be able to raise her children up on the farm and in church. She was very supportive of her children to get a good education and be active in the community. Ruth and Merlyn grew up involved in a local 4-H community club as children and she encouraged her children with their involvement in 4-H projects as well as academics, sports, church and good old-fashioned family farm work. Honesty, Christian values, a positive outlook, honest labor and a sense of family fun and togetherness were characteristics of her family. An unselfish, modest attitude with self-respect and Christian concern for others has been her attitude throughout all of the struggles of raising a family on a farm in northwest Iowa. I, Brad, am proud of the example of my mother, Ruth Ellen (Galbraith) Smith, set for me growing up with all the listening and nurturing she provided to me my brothers and sisters. She is a quiet but important hero in my life.

Submitted 2/14/95