Dolores Ethel Smith

Dolores Ethel (Boulen) Smith of Kalamazoo, Michigan, passed away on December 12, 2023, at the age of 98. Dolores was born in Saint Paul, Minnesota, on October 25, 1925, to the late Fredrick and Charlotte (Carlson) Boulen. On October 1, 1942, Dolores married Ronald Smith in Allegan, Michigan. Dolores and Ronald were married nearly 71 years before Ronald’s passing in 2013.

Soon after their marriage, Dolores and Ronald began their family. Not long after that, they moved to Kalamazoo, Michigan. In the 1960’s, they built a summer home on Reynolds Lake in Lawrence, Michigan. After Dolores retired from Bronson Hospital, they moved to their summer home permanently. In 2014, following the loss of her husband, Dolores relocated to Kalamazoo, and eventually to Butterfly Oasis Assisted Living.

Dolores loved crafts (especially quilling), hummingbirds, and people, among many other things. She was well organized and meticulous, which were valuable traits for her beautiful quilling projects. Dolores was a people person. She was outgoing and made friends everywhere she went. Dolores and Ronald made many trips to Florida, and while on these trips, she would gain friends from all over the country.

Dolores was a wonderful, loving mom, and she always made sure her son, Ron, was at church and knew Jesus. She loved Jesus as her Savior and believed John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life”, and John 14:6, “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’”

Dolores is survived by her son, Ronald (Mona) Smith Jr.; grandchildren, Ray (Kim) DesVoignes, Rodney (Autumn) DesVoignes, and Randel (Lisa) Smith; granddaughter-in-law, Janine DesVoignes; 11 great-grandchildren and the spouses; 27 great-great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Elizabeth Roblyer; many nieces and nephews; and her special friend, Howard, from Butterfly Oasis.

Dolores was preceded in death by her beloved husband; her infant son, Patrick Michell Smith; brothers, Bill Shireman and Leo Roblyer; and grandson, Richard Lee DesVoignes.

Dolores will be laid to rest at Riverside Cemetery with a celebration of life to be held at a later date. Her family would like to give special thanks to the owners, staff, and residents at Butterfly Oasis for providing joy and comfort in her final years, and to the staff at Gentiva Hospice for the exceptional care they provided.

Charitable donations in Dolores’ honor may be made to Van Buren Youth Camp. To leave an online condolence, please visit https://www.langelands.com.