Donna Marie Smith

A secure childhood in the seed bed of Minnesota Swedish Baptists was where little Donna Marie Smith was born. On October 31, 1936, Winfield and Olga Anderson, children of Swedish and Norwegian immigrants, welcomed their first daughter into their Cambridge, Minnesota home. Four years later, Donna was joined by sister, Judy. Life was good in Cambridge where the family attended First Baptist Church and Donna's young faith flourished, leading to her baptism at age 11. When Trout Lake Camp welcomed its first campers in 1947, Donna was proud to say she never missed a summer all the way up to her high school graduation. Donna attended Cambridge public schools, graduating in 1954. Her solid Swedish Baptist roots then led her to Bethel College in St. Paul. There she met a young man from Indiana by the name of Gene Smith. Donna soon transferred to St. Cloud State University, where she was able to complete her elementary teaching degree, and receive a kindergarten endorsement. Gene transferred to Valparaiso University in Indiana, where he too, received a teaching degree. Both Donna and Gene completed their college courses in June of 1958, and were promptly married in August of 1958 back at First Baptist Church in Cambridge by Donna's beloved Pastor Bob Norstrom. A move for the young couple to Minneapolis was precipitated by both signing contracts to teach in the Minneapolis Public Schools. They found a home in the northern suburb of Brooklyn Center, and a church home at Brooklyn Center Baptist Church. In 1959, Gene and Donna became proud parents to son Kirk, who was followed by their second son, Barry, in 1962. In 1971, the Smiths moved their family of four to a townhome in Roseville, Minnesota. There was no question that they would now find themselves at Central Baptist Church in St. Paul's Midway neighborhood where college friends John and Barb Anderson, and Gene's childhood friend from Indiana, Ron Eckert and his wife Carol, were now the pastoral team. Gene and Donna found themselves involved immediately in the ministries at Central, working with the youth as high school teachers, and later leading the college and career class. Donna continued to teach until the early 1980's. At that time Donna decided to act on her notion that the many educational tools and resources that had been available to her as a teacher could also be of benefit to churches, their Christian education departments, and their Sunday Schools. She decided to leave teaching and open her own business - an educational store for parents, teachers, and children, featuring parent and teacher resources educational toys, books, and both secular and religious curriculum. Her store was named The Learning Square. First housed in the basement of a small building in the Como Park neighborhood, it eventually moved to Milton Square in St. Anthony Park. Donna's expertise was also sought after as she was invited to lead workshops in churches and early childhood circles. She added furniture and other equipment to her available inventory, helping many churches and pre-schools get good quality equipment at a discount. Central Baptist and Central Childcare were grateful benefactors of Donna's expertise and discounted merchandise, as the church burgeoned with young families and lots of lively children. In 1989, Gene retired after 30 years of teaching in Minneapolis to join Donna in running the business. They closed the retail store soon after that and continued to do trade shows, catalog sales, and provide supplies and curriculum to early childhood programs, preschools, and churches. Gene passed away suddenly in 1993 leaving Donna to carry on alone until her retirement in 2007. After Gene's death Donna continued her active involvement at Central Baptist Church. She served on the church board as chair of the Personnel committee, the Family Life committee, and in Member Care. Through all of this, her passion was for the women's ministry at Central. She served for many years on the board of the Central Women's Fellowship. In 2016, a fall CWF event planned by Donna and her counterpart and longtime friend, Barb Erickson, led to the birthing of a new ministry for Central: Living Grace Ministries. This unprecedented program reached out to women who were facing the challenges of reentry after incarceration. Donna's love and passion for this ministry and the women it touched became her primary focus in her last years. She gained so much satisfaction from seeing how God called together a team of women from Central to join this great outreach. Out of the relationships built through Living Grace, grew evidence of the need for a Celebrate Recovery program. Donna lived a full and blessed life. Her childhood was near perfect. As an adult, she experienced a fullness and purpose in all she pursued. Her wisdom and mentorship was a gift to all in her sphere of influence both at Central and beyond. But her life was not without hardship. Her hardest days in life were the sudden death of her husband and friend, Gene, at 58 years old, and the loss of her oldest son, Kirk, to cancer at age 53. Loss so deep allowed her to realize that she could not continue to live the life that might have been, but to instead live the life God had now placed before her. In her words: "Out of great pain comes great strength." Donna Marie Smith is preceded in death by her parents, Winfield and Olga Anderson, husband Gene Smith, son Kirk Smith, Gene's parents Arn and Sue Smith, and brother-in-law William Freyberg. She is survived by son, Barry Smith (Carrie), sister Judy Pearson (John), sister-in-law Janet Freyberg, grandchildren Kelsey, Katie, and Emily, Joshua, Jacob, Abby, great grandchildren Finn & Lily and six nieces and nephews. Donna asked to leave the following message to her beloved grandchildren: "I am so proud of you and the fine young adults you have become, with concern for others, acceptance of diversity, and social justice. I feel as if I am leaving the world in good hands with millennials such as you. I leave you with two scripture verses: 'Learn to do right, seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.' -Isaiah 1:17 NIV 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind,' and 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' -Luke 10:17 NIV" Memorials preferred to: Global Horizons (memo: Cornerstone Academy) Central Baptist Foundation Due to Covid-19 a small family service by invitation is planned.

Tributes

Donna Marie Smith

October 31, 1936 - September 30, 2020

Tributes

Donna Marie Smith

October 31, 1936 - September 30, 2020

We are here for you 24x7

Call us and get help now

(612) 377-2203