Nettie Smith was born in Fletcher, Ohio and passed away 11/12/2018 at the age of 96. Her parents, Charles and Edith Sipe, were farmers. She married Charles Smith as soon as he returned from Germany after serving in the US Army during WWII. They moved to Michigan with his employer, Lear Sigler, and were long-time residents of Rockford. Nettie was an elementary school teacher in Sparta, where she coached basketball, and in Rockford Public Schools for many years. She primarily taught second grade and is known for her role in starting the Rockford high school girls competitive swim team in 1968. Nettie also was den mother for her son’s scout pack and helped with Camp Fire Girls activities for her 3 daughters.
Nettie had many talents including sewing and knitting but her passion and driving force was sports competition. She grew up playing softball and basketball and later took on bowling, volleyball, skiing and golf. Nettie also liked skating and swimming. She was a tough competitor and won golf tournaments and downhill ski races. At the age of 80 she qualified for the NASTAR national event, went to Utah to compete and won first place in the country for women age 80 and over. After age 85 when she stopped competing in skiing, she taught some of her great grandchildren to ski. When she was 91 and no longer able to ski and golf, she started using trekking poles to hike regularly with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
After Charles was disabled by a stroke, they built a home on Lake Bella Vista so they could enjoy the lake and have a place for children and grandchildren to visit and play. Of course she made sure there were boats, fishing gear, water skis and other fun things to keep everyone active while they visited. Her home has continued to be the center of family activities since it was built in 1979.
Nettie is preceded in death by her husband Charlie, her mother and father Edith and Charles Sipe, an infant sister, her brothers, Richard Sipe, Roy Sipe and C. Frank Sipe, an infant granddaughter, sister-in-law and brother-in-law Ellen and John Hawker.
Nettie is fondly remembered by her children Jill Goodell of Grand Rapids, Dan (Debra) Smith, Lynn (Jim) Benson, Holly (Jim) Porter of Rockford, niece Cathy Colorado of Byron Center; Grandchildren, Brandon (Rachel) Smith, Tiffany (Jay) Franks, and Peter Goodell of Jackson, WY, Josh (Melissa) Benson of Coopersville, Sarah (Aaron) Van Soest of Rockford, Molly (Eric) Smead of Caledonia, Katie (Jeff) McClintic of Jennison, Todd (Amaris) Porter, Cathie Porter of Grand Rapids; and great grandchildren, Nicole, Jacob, Ellie, Natalie, Malik, Isaac, Connor, Eli, Kyle, Henry, Clara, Abigail, Duncan, Theodore, Rowan, Sawyer, and Lochlan; Sister-in-law, Virginia Morgan, Brother-in-law Harold Smith, many nieces and nephews as well as many former students, athletes she coached and competed with, and community members.
In lieu of flowers the family asks that contributions be made to the Grand Rapids Salvation Army in memory of Nettie C. Smith or to The Ronald McDonald House.
Visitation with family is planned for November 29, 2018, 5:30 to 8:00 PM at Pederson Funeral Home in Rockford, Michigan. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM November 30, 2018, with visitation one hour prior.