Joyce Ardel Smit

     Joyce “Ardel” Smit age 87 of Sioux Center, IA died Wednesday, August 17, 2022, at Crown Pointe Estates in Sioux Center, IA.

     A funeral service will be held at 11:00AM on Saturday, August 20, 2022, at the Centerpoint Church in Sioux Center with Rev. Stephen Breen officiating.  Interment will follow at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Ireton, Iowa.

     A visitation will take place at 10AM on Saturday until the time of the service at Centerpoint Church in Sioux Center.

     In lieu of flower family prefers memorials maybe directed to Sioux Center Health Hospice & Home Care.

     Joyce Ardel Smit, known as Ardel to most everyone, was born on August 30, 1934, to Frank and Clara (Watkins) Bowden in Ireton, Iowa. Ardel graduated from the Ireton High School and met the love of her life, Delmar. They were married on June 29, 1956. In 1958 the family moved to Chino, California where Ardel was the Secretary at Salem Christian Home. She also sold Avon door to door while living in California. In 1967, the family moved back to Ireton, Iowa and purchased the grocery store, Del’s Clover Farm where Ardel worked as the bookkeeper and whatever was needed to run the family grocery store. She was the administrative secretary for the Ireton Veterinary Clinic and PNM in Ireton for many years. Del and Ardel moved to Sioux Center when retiring. Ardel help serve samples at Hy-Vee in Sioux Center, and volunteered at the Sioux Center hospital to stay active, and would talk with anyone that needed a special hand. She was also active with Hope Haven’s women’s auxiliary as Treasurer for several years, was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary post 276, Happy Hooker’s Crochet Group, Coffee Break Bible Study, and was active in the Sioux County Chorus.  She loved music, played piano and organ, and enjoyed when the family would sing together.  She was a special Mom to her Boys, Grandchildren, and Great Grandchildren. 

     Ardel was preceded in death by her husband Delmar, son Bruce Smit, her parents Frank and Clara (Watkins) Bowden, her brothers Thayne, Dean, and Homer Bowden, her sisters Betty Loverien and Wanda Kuchel.

     Ardel leaves behind her sons; Doug and his wife Janet Smit, Ireton, IA and Ken and his wife Kim Smit of Sioux Center, IA, daughter-in-law Tina Smit of Chapin, SC, 9 grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren, her sister Velda Juffer, Sioux Center, IA, brothers and sisters-in-law, and many nieces and nephews.