Obituary of Arlys Ann Smid

Arlys Ann Smid, age 81, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, passed away Friday, August 12, 2022. She was born February 11, 1941, in Little Rock, Iowa, to her parents William and Margaret Klaassen. Arlys graduated from Boyden High School in 1959. Arlys then attended Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa, and graduated with a degree in elementary education. Arlys married her high school sweetheart, John Smid, on June 12, 1964, at Boyden United Presbyterian Church in Boyden, Iowa. Over the course of their 53 years of marriage, John and Arlys resided in Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Sioux City, Iowa; Omaha, Nebraska; Columbus, Nebraska; Springfield, Missouri; and finally in Colorado Springs, Colorado, for the last 28 years. Arlys taught 1st and 3rd grades in their early marriage, then stayed home to raise their two daughters. Arlys returned to working outside the home at the Nebraska Job Service before moving to Springfield to run a golf store with John. Arlys finished her working career at Focus on the Family as the Volunteer Coordinator.Arlys always prioritized the happiness of others. She loved the camaraderie of friends from work, church, neighborhoods, and Bible study groups. Her true priority, though, was always her family. She supported her husband, daughters, and grandchildren any way she could. She went wherever she was needed. She baked favorite treats for family members and created treasured scrapbooks for each grandchild. Arlys sat out in all kinds of weather to cheer them on at a variety of events. She shared a love of traveling with John, and the two of them made many happy memories by camping and exploring new places together. Arlys was always happiest when the people around her were happy.Arlys was preceded in death by her husband, John; her parents; and her brothers, Myron, Richard, and Joel.Arlys is survived by her two daughters, Stacy (Brian) Boerboom of Chesapeake, Virginia, and Kristen (Trace) Kea of Colorado Springs, Colorado; her eight grandchildren, Zach Boerboom of Boston, Massachusetts, Jacob (Annette) Boerboom of San Diego, California, Sarah and Nathan Boerboom of Chesapeake, Virginia, Jared Courtney of Canby, Minnesota, Ember Boerboom of Gainesville, Florida, William and Joshua Kea of Colorado Springs, Colorado; her brother, Burdell (Judith) Klaassen of Sheldon, Iowa; her sisters, Mavis (Jude) Gravenhof of Worthington, Minnesota, Sharon Van Der Wilt of Boyden, Iowa, Rhonda (Ed) Petitt of Boyden, Iowa; sister-in-law, Donna Darrell of Omaha, Nebraska; and twenty-eight nieces and nephews.Funeral Service, 10:30AM, Friday, August 26, 2022, Woodmen Valley Chapel - Woodmen Heights Campus, 8292 Woodmen Valley View #5093, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80908.Graveside Service, 12:30PM, Friday, August 26, 2022, Evergreen Cemetery, 1005 Hancock Expressway, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80903.In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Crossroads Ministries (www.crossroadsusa.org/donate.html). Events Funeral Service Friday, August 26, 2022 10:30AM Woodmen Valley Chapel - Woodmen Heights Campus 8292 Woodmen Valley View Colorado Springs, CO 80908 Graveside Friday, August 26, 2022 12:30PM Evergreen Cemetery 1005 Hancock Expressway Colorado Springs, CO 80903 Phone: 719-578-6646