Imogene Smith

For Imogene, the love of her family was the most important thing in her life. She showed the intensity of her feelings in the way she did everything-with grace, selflessness, and unconditional love.

On February 15, 1917, a snowstorm swept across the Alamo landscape. Belden J. Bachelder and his wife, Angola "Gola" Reynolds, were expecting a baby, and sure enough she decided to arrive right in the midst of the dramatic weather. Fortunately the family home was warm and inviting, and the baby arrived safely, much to the relief of her parents. Baby Imogene would be their only child, and she would grow up learning everything there was to know about her parent's farm, which had been in the family since 1862. Imogene studied her father as he tended the dairy farm, raised sheep, and grew a number of crops, including potatoes. During potato harvest time Imogene's father enlisted the help of area schoolchildren, and the farm became lively and full of movement. Since she helped with the harvest and other farm chores, Imogene learned to drive a car early, at the age of just 14.

Imogene spent most of her time helping her mother, a woman who became not only her constant companion, but also, her close friend. Together Imogene and her mother gathered eggs from the hen house, cleaned the family home, and cooked meals for the hired men. They cared for each other when they were sick too, which, unfortunately, was often the case. Imogene suffered from chronic ear infections throughout her childhood and by the time she reached high school, she had permanent hearing loss. Even though music couldn't really be a focal point of her teenage years, Imogene never wanted to bring attention to her disability. In fact, she decided to take up the Hawaiian guitar for a short while in high school. She also spent a lot of time giggling with her best friend, Clarisse Sweet, who lived about a mile across the fields.

Since she had skipped kindergarten, Imogene graduated from Kalamazoo Central High School in 1934 at the age of 17. Four years later she graduated with honors from Western Michigan State Teachers College , majoring in History. Through a friend in college who was a niece of Varn Paddock, the superintendent of Milan Schools, she interviewed and was immediately hired. And so it was that in the summer of 1938, Imogene packed up her belongings, moved to the east side of the state, and took her first assignment as a teacher. Walking into class on the first day was a bit of a shock, not only because it was her first day teaching, but because she saw a total 52 students looking back at her. Imogene had never expected such a large group, but she took on the challenge and, of course, succeeded beautifully.

Just after school began that fall, Imogene's two colleagues, Elizabeth and Kathleen Smith, introduced her to their brother, Howard. Imogene was immediately taken with Howard's good looks. She learned that he had relocated to Milan from Somerset , where he had run his family's farm for ten years following the sudden death of his father. Now he was working as the chief coil inspector at the Milan Ford Factory, and, needless to say, interested in beginning a courtship with Imogene. Though they were both eager, the courtship proved challenging. Howard and his family, including his mother and sisters, all lived in Howard's house, which didn't provide for uninterrupted courtship. Fortunately Imogene and Howard only let the well-meant interference strengthen their relationship. They married in Alamo on August 15 1942, some four years after first meeting. Howard brought "the family minister" from Somerset to officiate the wedding, which was particularly memorable because, throughout the ceremony, the man for some reason referred to Howard by the name "Robert."

Ironically, Imogene and Howard ended up moving in with the Smith clan. In fact, they remained with Howard's mother and sisters for two years while Howard contributed to the war effort by working at Willow Run. Later he would sell cars at Longnecker Buick, and return to college to finish his graduate work at the University of Michigan . Imogene, meanwhile, busied herself with their three wonderful children. Belden was born in 1944, Roger arrived in 1949 and young Lance in 1957. As a parent, Imogene proved herself to be incredibly selfless and loving. She was always there for her boys, teaching and nurturing their young minds. During dinner, Imogene would put on a bit of swing music and everyone would smile and move with the rhythm. Even with her hearing loss, music-especially the songs "Somewhere My Love" and "Love is a Many Splendid Thing"-never failed to be part of her life. Likewise, Imogene never failed to show her boys lessons like these. The death of young Roger in 1953 came as a shock, as he was only four years old when he passed. Thankfully, Imogene and her family were close, and they felt the loss together and moved forward with their lives.

In addition to being a homemaker for some years, Imogene taught school for 8 years and substituted for another 8. Her son Belden even got to have her as a substitute for his elementary school class on one occasion. Imogene helped Howard with his real estate business too, working with him from 1955 until his retirement in 1987, and taking over management of their properties upon Howard's death in 1992. With all that she had her hands in, it's no surprise that Imogene made good use of her organizational skills and her ability to adapt to any situation. Many different organizations were lucky to have Imogene and her talents, including the Women's Club, the Peoples' Presbyterian Church, and P.E.O. Imogene was an avid bridge player too. Over the years, entertaining for all her friends became Imogene's forte, and certainly the thing that brought her a great deal of joy. She loved being the hostess, preparing formal decorations for her guests, and cooking. Imogene took great pride in providing a full evening of fun for her friends, and putting to good use the skills she'd learned from her mother so many years before. Her mother's recipes were certainly praised by everyone, particularly her recipe for "Gems," which were delicious graham muffins.

Imogene loved watching her son, Belden, take over family's historic farm. It was a joy to see the tradition continue. Even in her later years, when her hearing and failing health plagued her, Imogene never complained or in any way distracted the family from the fact that they were together. She would just smile, take every moment in, and enjoy. When it finally came time for her to go, Imogene passed away on a day much like the one that had welcomed her into the world years earlier: the day of a dramatic, beautiful snowstorm.

Of all the lessons Imogene taught, the most remembered will be the lesson she taught her family, which was how to give everyone unconditional respect and care. This, and many other memories, will be part of her family's history forever.

Imogene Smith, age 88, died Friday, December 9, 2005 at Saline Evangelical Nursing Home. She was preceded in death by a son, Roger, her husband Howard, and her daughter-in-law Margaret (Hills) Smith and is survived by her sons, Belden (Barbara) of Alamo, and Lance (Nancy) of Milan, four grandsons, Aaron of Ann Arbor, Evan (Michelle) of Carlsbad, CA., Isaac and Mason of Milan.

The family will receive friends 6-8 p.m. Sunday and Monday, December 11 & 12 at the Nie Life Story Funeral Home, 2400 Carpenter Rd. Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, December 13, 2005 at Peoples Presbyterian Church, Milan, MI. Burial will take place next to her husband, Howard and son, Roger at Somerset Cemetery, Somerset, MI. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com to leave a memory, sign the guest book or make a memorial contribution.