Herma Lou Smith Lane

1930 - 2025

Herma Lou (Koenig) Smith Lane

March 30, 1930 - October 12, 2025

Herma Lou (Koenig) Smith Lane, age 95, of Missouri Valley, IA, passed away on October 12, 2025, at Azria Health Longview Nursing Home in Missouri Valley.

Herma was born on March 30, 1930, to John and Juanita (Grossmann) Koenig. She attended school in Missouri Valley, and graduated in 1948.

On June 13, 1948, she was united in marriage to Gene H. Smith at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Missouri Valley. They lived on a farm about one mile north of town until 1965 when they moved to town and were then referred to as, "city farmers".

They were blessed by the birth of three children, Dennis Lynn, Valerie Jean, and Jay Howard. Gene died on October 21, 1997, less than a year shy of their 50th wedding anniversary. This union created many joys and memories for the generations to follow.

Herma remarried on August 2, 2003, to Ralph Lane, also of Missouri Valley. They lived in Missouri Valley until Ralph was placed into skilled care. Ralph died on February 21, 2017.

Herma was a loving and caring wife, mother of three, grandmother of seven, great-grandmother of eight, and friend of many. She was commonly known as "Granny Apples" by the great-grandchildren. She loved to cook for the family, pamper all those that visited, garden to her flowers, quilting and sewing projects for the family and most of all she loved to make us feel special.

Herma worked as a bookkeeper at the JC Penny store in Missouri Valley as the kids grew up until the store closed around 1971. She then went to work for Bob Warner at the Warner, Kellogg & Day Insurance office as the bookkeeper. Gene and Herma had an opportunity to purchase the agency in 1981, Herma continued to work as the bookkeeper and agent until she retired in 1998.

Herma was preceded in death by her parents, John in 1970 and Juanita in 2000; two sisters, Olive (Corrine) Arndt in 1983 of Denver, CO, and Lorna Johnson of Council Bluffs, in 2004; nephew, Steve Johnson of Logan, IA, in 2012, Gary Lane, Jon Lane, and Diana Lane.

Those left to cherish memories of Herma are her three children, Dennis (Joanie) of Missouri Valley, Valerie (Charlie) Meyer of Lincoln, NE, and Jay (Gail) of Missouri Valley; her seven grandchildren, Tracy (Terry) Deutmeyer of Fairbank, IA, Cody Smith of Missouri Valley, Jamie (Ryan) Von Sossan of Sacramento, CA, Amber (Pete) Fencl of David City, NE, Brian Meyer of Lincoln, Lindsey (Ben) Rand of Elwood, NE, Brad (Mackenzie) Smith of Phoenix, AZ; eight great-grandchildren, Lou and Cole Von Sossan of Sacramento, Isabella Wagner of David City, Brody and Maxine Fencl of David City, Noah and Noelle Rand of Elwoood, NE, Chance Christopher Howard Smith of Phoenix; nieces, Sharon (Arndt) Jones of Henderson, NV, Brenda (Arndt) Page of Laramie, WY, Connie (Johnson) Pires of Modesto, CA; nephews, Scott Smith of Colorado Springs, CO, Tom Smith of Richmond, VA, Richard Smith of Hudson, OH, Stanley (Jim) Johnson of Omaha, NE, along with all those whose lives she touched.

Memorials may be given to her church, St. Paul Lutheran Church in Missouri Valley.

Services will be conducted October 17, 2025, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Missouri Valley.

Arrangements made by Hennessey Funeral Home, Missouri Valley.