Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church.

Inga Joyce Barsten was born May 5, 1932 to Oswald and Helen (Uecker) Barsten in Yorktown near Fullerton, North Dakota. Inga was baptized June 23, 1932 at the Grace Lutheran Church in Oakes, ND and was confirmed April 11th, 1944 at Zion Lutheran Church in Ellendale, ND. Inga graduated from Oakes High School in 1950. After high school, she moved to Fargo, ND and obtained a job as billing clerk at Reserve Supply Company, where she worked for six years.

On January 19, 1957 she was united in marriage to Thomas Smith, son of Melvin and Laura Smith, at the Gustavus Adolphus Lutheran Church in Gwinner, ND. They began their life together on the family farm west of Havana. In 1997 Tom and Inga moved to Forman, ND. Tom passed away in 2005. In July of 2017, Inga moved to Spruce Court in Britton, SD.

Inga was an active supporter of her community. She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Havana, where she belonged to the WELCA Ladies Aid and served as president and treasurer, taught Sunday school, and attended bible study. She also served as treasurer of Taylor Township, president of Havana Community Club, and on the advisory board of Marshall County Healthcare in Britton.

Inga liked to shop and bake. She especially loved to bake pies, breads and mocha bars. She enjoyed reading, playing cards, doing puzzles and visiting friends. In her spare time she visited the elderly in assisted living, nursing homes, and the veteran’s home. Tom and Inga enjoyed traveling, and had visited 46 states.

Inga passed away Monday, November 18, 2024 at Wheatcrest Hills Healthcare Center at the age of 92. Grateful for having shared her life are her children, Ralph (Carol) Smith of Havana and their children, Brittany (Tyler) Butler, Sarah (Kyle) Rzaszutak, Nadine Smith and Stephanie (Cole) Kellen; Brenda Smith of Fargo, ND and her children, Jacob Klubben, Laura Klubben (Shawn Fairweather) and Katie (Cassidy) Black; Steven “Sam” Smith of Havana and his children, Justine (Chase) Warburton, Thomas Smith and Marisa Smith; and Rhonda “Rosie” Smith of Watertown, SD; and 11 greatgrandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband; two brothers, Oswald (Dorothy) and Wilton (Mabel) Barsten; two sisters, Berma Dudley and Beatrice Hanson; daughter- in-law, Janel Smith; one nephew, Randy Olson; and one niece, Danielle (Hanson) Cortez.

Condolences may be directed to the family in care of Steven “Sam” Smith – PO Box 42 – Havana, ND 58043.

An online guestbook and obituary are available at www. olsonfuneralchapel.com