Marie Phyllis Ramstad, age 88, life-long resident of Sac County passed away Friday, April 8, 2016 at Park View Rehabilitation Center in Sac City, Iowa. Marie was born February 27, 1928 to George and Mabel (Schnirring) Smith. Marie was married to Clifford Ramstad and became a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church. They were blessed with two daughters, Nancy and Mary. Although they later divorced, Marie remained an active member of St. Paul's congregation, where she served as a devoted organist and musical director.
From a young age, Marie pursued her passion for music. She began a career teaching organ, guitar, accordian and piano lessons. Marie touched many lives as a music teacher and performer.
Marie acquired the Park Hotel and with her father, she refurbished portions of the landmark building. Its history is chronicled in her book, "If These Walls Could Talk."
In 2000, she was inducted into the Sac Community High School Hall of Fame. She leaves a legacy of music history, family history, and Sac City history for a loving family and her community.
Her survivors include daughters Nancy (Rand) Brookhart of Council Bluffs, IA, and Mary Klahn-Ramstad of Iowa City, IA; brother the Reverend Doctor Darrel (Linda) Smith of Oakdale, CA; and sisters Shirley (Don) Kitsmiller of Sac City, and Mavis (Maylan, deceased) Sams of Fort Dodge, IA; grandchildren: Carrie (Paul) Lalley of Omaha, NE, Andy Brookhart of Omaha, NE, Samuel Klahn of Iowa City, IA, and Elizabeth Marie (Corey) Hitchcock of Key West, FL; great-grandchildren: Sabrina Lalley, Jakob Erickson, Nick and Zack Lalley of Omaha, NE, and Kei Brookhart of Omaha, NE and Japan; sister-in-law Phyllis Smith of Waldorf, MD; and extended family. Marie was preceded in death by her parents and brother Wayne Smith.
