Frances Marilyn (Ransom) Smith

Frances Marilyn Smith, age 88, of Pittsfield, IL passed away on Monday May 19, 2025, at Liberty Village. She was born on August 12, 1936, on the family farm south of Pittsfield. Her parents were Earl and Frances (Riley) Ransom. 

Marilyn grew up on the farm and was active in 4-H, showing cattle. This led her to become active in the Farm Bureau Rural Youth Organization, where she held many positions and went on to represent Pike County at the State Level. She was invited to attend the 50th Anniversary Celebration of the state committee and was recognized as being on the first committee selected in the state. Marilyn went to country schools until middle school and went on to graduate from Pittsfield High School with the Class of 1954, which she was very proud to be a member. In high school she was very active and social and was a member of the NHS.  She went on to work for Helen Hackman at the Farm Bureau for several years. Over the years she worked at Illini Hospital as a transcriptionist working beside Ada Treadway and Marilyn Benson. She later worked at the Pike County Health Department as a transcriptionist and then secretary.

Marilyn was very active in her children’s and grandchildren’s activities, whether it be attending ballgames, dance recitals or music concerts. She was always very supportive throughout their lives. She was a member of Home Extension, P.T.A., Pittsfield Dance Club, Bridge Club, and in earlier years was on a bowling league. Marilyn was an avid book reader and collector, she was very artistic and could paint a scene on anything you handed her. She gave many painted candles as gifts over the years. She was a seamstress, loved to embroider, cross stitch, scrapbook, and her finished products were beautiful. Marilyn was a great cook and even better baker, always making everyone’s favorites. Her true love was sports, she loved the Cardinals, Illini Basketball, the 90’s Chicago Bulls, and of course the Pittsfield Saukees. She kept stats for all the games she watched up until she moved to Liberty Village. She cherished the time spent with family especially her grandchildren and great grandchildren. 

She is survived by her two children, Grant (Julie Martinez) Smith of Wonder Lake, IL and Jennifer Niebur of Pittsfield, IL; grandchildren, Nicholas Niebur, Kasey Smith, Alexandra (Russ) Weyland, and Ariana (Jake) Aganus; great-grandchildren, Kason, Jude, Perry, Autumn, and Aiden; two sisters, Sherry Ranft and Brenda Lagemann; sister-in-law, Jane Ransom; and all her Smith in-laws that she always was made to forever feel like family; many nieces and nephews; and her caretaker/friend Lorrie (Danny) Guthrie. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, Earl and Frances Ransom; son, Brian Charles in infancy; grandchildren, Joshua Smith and Riley Smith; brothers, Albert (Evelyn) Ransom, Richard ‘Dick’ Ransom, and Paul Ransom; son-in-law, Mike Niebur; brother-in-law, J.W. Ranft; and nephew, Andrew Ranft.

Funeral service will be held at 1:00 PM, Friday, May 23, 2025, at Niebur Funeral Home in Pittsfield with visitation held prior to the service from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Interment will follow the service at Oakwood Cemetery in Pittsfield, IL. Memorials are suggested to be made to Oakwood Cemetery. Online condolences may be left to the family at www.nieburfh.com. Niebur Funeral Home in Pittsfield is handling the arrangements.

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