Person:Grace Smith (25)

WILLMAR, Minn. - Grace Irene Plants, 92, most recently of Willmar, Minn., and formerly of Oneonta, N.Y., died Sunday, Jan. 9, 2000, at the Bethesda Heritage Nursing Home in Willmar, Minn. She was born on Aug. 21, 1907, in Cortland, N.Y., the daughter of Ira W. and Julia L. (Underwood) Smith. She married the Rev. Russell Plants on April 17, 1933. He died on Sept. 28, 1986. Mrs. Plants attended the Cortland High School, Beulah Heights Bible School for one year, and Bethel Bible School for two years, fromwhich she graduated in 1929. In October of 1929, she sailed to Egypt with Miss Lillian Trasher, who was called "Mother of the Nile," because of the orphanage she founded in Assuit, Upper Egypt. Mrs. Plants worked in this orphanage as a missionary. In 1931, she met the Rev. Russell Plants in Cairo, Egypt, and returned to the United States. In 1936, they returned to Egypt, where they served as missionaries until 1938, when they had to return to the United States because of the Rev. Plants' health, which was affected adversely by the climate of Egypt. They moved to Oneonta in 1938, and founded the Gospel Tabernacle (which is now the Assembly of God Church) in 1939. In 1990, Grace, moved to New London, Minn., to live with her daughter, Mary Louise Hendricksen. In July of 1995, she entered Bethesda Heritage Nursing Home in Willmar, Minn., where she resided until her death. She is survived by her children and their spouses, Roberta and James Coulter of Sun Lakes, Ariz., Donald G. Plants ofOneonta, Mary Louise and Bernie Hendricksen of Willmar, Minn., Gordon R. Plants of Oneonta and Esther Ruth Brior of Denver, Colo.; nine grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren; a sister, Rose Haglund of Schenectady; along with nieces and nephews.