Sara Minette

Sara Louise (Smith) Minette, 83, of Liberty, Mo., went home to the Lord on Thursday, Jan. 18, 2024. 

A memorial service will be held at a later date.  Memorials may be directed to local education in Sara’s memory.

Sara was born on Dec. 17, 1940, in St. James, Minn. to Theodore Emmit Smith and Ruth Louise Marsh Smith. She grew up in Mason City, alongside her sister, Connie. After graduating from Mason City High School, she attended NIACC and then the University of Iowa, graduating with a degree in education. She met her husband, Michael D. (Mick) Minette, at NIACC, and they married in Clear Lake, on Aug. 8, 1964. From their union, they were blessed with five children: John, Mary, Nancy, Ted, and Jennifer. 

Sara was a beloved Title 1 reading and math teacher at Central School in Clear Lake. She greatly impacted the lives of her students and this was the treasure of her working life. She and her family were members of Zion Lutheran Church, and she was an active member in her community, belonging to PEO and Tri-T. In her retirement, Sara was an editor for Plaidswede Publishing in Concord, NH where she lived for 15 years. She was a member of the New Hampshire Writer’s Guild and was instrumental in bringing the book series Fritz Wetherbee’s New Hampshire to the public. She lived her last five years in Liberty.

Sara loved gardening, birding, and music. She was talented at painting and calligraphy and was an avid piano player. She enjoyed golf, camping, writing, and telling stories. Above all, Sara was devoted to her loved ones and adored being a grandmother and visiting her eight grandchildren. She touched those she met with her beautiful smile, tender heart, kindness, and compassion.

She will be missed by her children, John Minette (Salina), Mary Minette (Anthony Ladogana), of Portland, Ore., Ted Minette (Kelly), of Liberty, and Jennifer Minette Fore (Christopher), of Danbury, NH; eight grandchildren, Spencer Minette, Madeline Fore, Rosemary Fore, Sarah Battaleme (Mauricio), Samuel Minette, Max Minette, Kate Minette, and Santino Ladogana; great-grandson, Ever Battaleme; older sister, Connie Hitzhusen, of Lewisville, Texas; brother and sister-in-law, Dick and Kate Minette, of Cedar Rapids; and four nieces and nephews, Mark Alcorn (Joyce), of Coppell, Texas, Paula Tyler, of Lewisville, Texas, Aimee Kern (Andy), of Clear Lake, and Michael Minette (Kim), of Denver, Colo.

Sara was preceded in death by her daughter, Nancy; husband, Mick; her parents; and brother-in-law, Donald Hitzhusen. 

Ward Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, is in charge of arrangements.