Carolyn Francis (Lockett) Smidt, age 88, of Primghar passed away on Friday March 14, 2025, at Community Memorial Health Center in Hartley, Iowa. Services will be at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday March 22, 2025 at Grace Lutheran Church in Primghar, Iowa with Pastor John Adams officiating.
Burial will be at the Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Primghar. Elderidge Family Funeral Home is caring for the family.
Visitation will be from 10:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M. just prior to the service on Saturday March 22, 2025 at Grace Lutheran Church, Primghar, Iowa.
Carolyn Francis Smidt, the daughter of Russell and Ruth Bell (Matthews) Lockett was born April 20, 1936, in Stuart, Iowa. She received her education at Kingsley High School, graduating in 1954. She received her teaching degree from Briar Cliff College in Sioux City, IA in 1956. She taught 6th grade in the Primghar Community School District for two years.
She was united in marriage to Richard D. Smidt on June 1, 1958. They made their home in the Primghar area and then moved to the Smidt Family Farm in the spring of 1961. Carolyn devoted her life to her family, her friends, and her faith.
Carolyn enjoyed volunteering in her community with the local hospital auxiliary and church groups. She had a passion for red cardinals and watching and listening to lake loons up north. Her hobbies of collecting spooners, sewing, quilting, and creating family photo albums brought her joy. She was the coordinator behind the annual fishing trips to northern Minnesota for over 50 years, first with her own children and then grandchildren. She enjoyed travels across the United States and had a fabulous gift of recalling names, dates and events. She was our family historian.
In the early 1980’s, Carolyn decided to get involved in teaching once again, serving as a volunteer tutor for the Iowa Refugee Service Center. She was proud of the certificate that she received from Governor Robert Ray in recognition of her specialty: English Language Training for Indochinese Students.
Carolyn loved family gatherings and would cater to all things grandchildren. She was a wonderful homemaker who loved her family.
Carolyn’s memory will be cherished by her husband of 66 years, Richard: children Tom (Cindy) of Greene, IA, Kevin (Dee) of Sheridan, WY, and Becky (Mike) Jackson of Emmetsburg, IA; grandchildren Ethan and Kellen Smidt, Paul (Emily) Smidt and Annie(Jace) Smidt – Desmond, Nate Smidt, Colten and Haley Jackson; Sisters Judy Madron, Jeannie (Cliff) Haack, sister-in law Nancy Lockett along with many of other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents Russell and Ruth Lockett, mother and father in-law Velma (Puhrmann) and John Smidt, brother Jack Lockett, in-laws Katherine (Smidt) and Francis Henrich and Joyce (Smidt) and Derwood Heine, uncles: Paul Matthews, Jerome Matthews, Robert Matthews, Herschel Lockett, Paul Lockett and Eugene Lockett.
The family would like to express heartfelt gratitude to the care team at Community Memorial Health Center of Hartley for their support over the last two years. Memorials can be directed to Kids Kampus Daycare in Primghar or to the family.