Monika Smith

Monika Ute Maria Smith, one of three children of Isolde (Remmlinger) Thiele and Claus Martin Thiele, was born in Ludwigshafen, Germany on July 12, 1960. Monika grew up in Ludwigshafen, graduating from high school in 1977. Following school, she attended an area trade school where she earned her Associate Degree in Bakery Marketing.

Monika was working as a waitress in Ludwigshafen when she met Kevin E. Smith of Grand Forks, North Dakota. Kevin was serving in the United States Army, stationed in Mannheim, Germany. When Kevin returned to the United States, Monika followed and the couple married on September 25, 1982 in Aiken, South Carolina. In 1992, Kevin was discharged from the Army and the couple moved to Georgia. In 1995, Kevin took a position in Omaha, Nebraska and the couple settled in Carson, Iowa.

Monika loved to cook and enjoyed working in the restaurant industry. While in Carson, she operated the Carson Bar & Grill and Monika's Skillet.

Monika and Kevin had been married 28 years when Monika died at the Methodist Hospital in Omaha, Nebraska on October 29, 2010, at the age of 50 years, 3 months, and 29 days. She was preceded in death by her parents, Isolde and Claus Thiele.

She is survived by her husband Kevin Smith of Carson, Iowa; brothers, Volker Thiele and wife Annette, of Ludwigshafen, Germany, and Stephan Thiele of Stuttgart, Germany; foster son Donald Loring and wife Pebbles and her daughter Sierra of Kileen, Texas; other relatives; and friends.

Private memorial services will be held in Grand Forks, North Dakota.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family.

Hertz Funeral Home of Carson, Iowa assisted with arrangements.