Alberta Carter Fuller Smits passed away peacefully on Tuesday, January 3, 2023, at the age of 101 years.
Alberta is survived by her son, Richard Smits of Lake Elsinore, California, daughter, Gretchen Campbell of Sandy, Utah, 14 Grandchildren, and 40 great-grandchildren.
As a child, she lived in the little town of Tingly, Iowa. Later her family moved to Wichita, Kansas where she graduated from high school. She then later moved to California where she met and married Harry Smits (Haije Haitsma (Dutch) changed his name to Americanize it).
Alberta and her family lived in Artesia, California, and then moved to Cypress, California. She was a stay-at-home mom until her husband, Harry, died. She then started working at a chicken processing plant. Later she got a job as the principal’s secretary at the Cypress Grammar School. She also did taxes from home for people and small businesses. She later moved to Centralia School District offices in the bookkeeping dept. She retired from there. She then started working for H&R Block Tax Service from February through April 16, then it was vacation time. She also did taxes at the local Senior Center for free. Living in several places in Orange County, California before coming to Utah to live with her daughter.
Alberta, Harry, and Richard joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in 1952. She served in many callings in the church including Sunday School Teacher, Primary Worker, Young Women Program, Relief Society, and Stake Librarian. She also served in the Los Angeles Temple as a Temple Worker for ten years.
After her retirement, she and some of her friends traveled a lot. Alaska, Hawaii, Canada, Mexico, Holland, and a cruise ship from the East Coast to San Diego by way of the Panama Canal. She was a person that would try anything. I remember hearing about white water rafting many times. She also loved going on flower trips with her daughter Gretchen’s tour group in Utah. She will be missed by all that have come in contact with her.
Funeral Services will be on Monday, January 9th at 11:00 am at the Crescent Ridge Stake Center, 1265 East 11000 South in Sandy, Utah. Viewings will be on Sunday from 6:00–8:00 pm at Larkin Sunset Gardens, 1950 East Dimple Dell Road (10600 South), and on Monday from 9:00–10:30 at the church prior to Funeral Services. Interment to follow at Larkin Sunset Gardens Cemetery.
For those unable to join the service in person, the family invites you to join via Zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89848996546. A free Zoom account is required and you will need to sign in to join the service.