Candice "Candy" Smith

Candice "Candy" K. Smith, age 71, of Willmar, passed away unexpectedly Tuesday morning at her residence in Willmar.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 9, at Vinje Lutheran Church in Willmar.  Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. on Monday, April 8, at Peterson Brothers Funeral Home in Willmar and will continue for one hour prior to the service at the church on Tuesday.  Memorials to honor Candy's life may be directed to Vinje Lutheran Church, 1101 Willmar Ave. SW. Willmar, MN  56201

Candice “Candy” Kay Smith was born on November 30, 1947, in Morris, Minnesota, the daughter of Harold and Maxine (Suhrbier) Blasing.  She grew up in the Hancock community and graduated from Hancock High School in 1965.  On June 11, 1965, Candy was united in marriage to Richard Lee Smith.  They made their home in Hancock and Ortonville before moving to Willmar in 1969.  Candy was employed by Willmar Service Corp., Rice Memorial Hospital as a medical transcriber and the Willmar High School as a librarian and media aide.  She was an active member of Vinje Lutheran Church and numerous clubs such as a birthday club, coffee club, walking club, biking club…(a club for everything she liked doing).  Candy enjoyed entertaining family and friends.  She loved her grandchildren and was proud of all their accomplishments.

She is survived by her loving husband, Rick of Willmar; her children, Lee (and Janet) Smith of Eden Prairie and Wendy Merila of Albertville; five grandchildren, Wyatt and Garrett Smith and Brooke, Boston and Brody Merila; three step-grandchildren, Adam, Amanda and Ashley Astor and one sister, Jackie (and Steve) Burmeister of North St. Paul, besides other relatives and many friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents.