Donald Smith

Funeral services for Don Smith were held on Monday, October 21, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Gregory, SD, with Reverend Thaniel Certa-Werner officiating.

Music was provided by Geoff Smith, soloist, accompanied by Bette Fogel, pianist, and Ann Fogel was in charge of registration.

Casket bearers were Lowell “Skeeter” Smith, Carolyn Reis, Blaine Bolander, Katie Bolander, Bryan Nelson, and Perry Foltz.

Honorary casket bearers were Don’s nieces and nephews.

Burial was in the Graceland Cemetery in Burke, SD, with military honors presented by the Gregory American legion and the Navy National Honors Team.

Donald Dean Smith was born on September 6, 1929 to Clifford and Anna (Richter) Smith on a farm (known as the Sibley farm) northwest of Dixon in Tripp County, SD. Don was the youngest of twelve children in the family. His siblings were Glenn, Marvin, Gerald, Lois, Mildred, Robert, John, and Lowell. Siblings Clair and twins Carolyn and Catherine died at birth.

Don attended the Lincoln School in Lyman County and finished the eighth grade at the Heinert School north of Dallas, SD. He attended Dallas High School, graduating in 1946.

Don worked on the farm helping his parents until entering the US Navy on March 3, 1949. He received his basic training in San Diego, CA, then was sent to Navy Airman’s School in Memphis, TN. He was stationed in Corpus Christi, TX to help train new student pilots. Don then went to San Ysidro, CA to serve as a mechanic in Guided Missile Unit #90. Then he went on to serve in Japan in Tokyo and Miho and other various bases in Japan. In Yokosuka, Japan Don boarded the USS Boxer with his squadron’s planes and guided missile drones. These were used in Korea. After returning to Japan he was flown to Hawaii and then San Ysidro, CA, to be discharged in 1953.

Don returned home and attended college at Springfield to become a rural school teacher.

On October 9, 1954, Don was united in marriage to Rosie Julia Pesek of Dallas, SD. Don and Rosie lived in the Gregory area their entire married life of 69 years.

Don also worked as a bookkeeper for Harrison Plumbing before joining the post office as a substitute for the city carrier. He retired in 2006 after 42 years serving the post office, and four years military time.

Don passed away on October 13, 2024, at the Avera Rosebud Country Care Center in Gregory, SD, at the age of 95 years.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Rosie in March 2024; and seven brothers: Glenn, Marvin, Gerald, Clair, Robert, John and Lowell “Bud”; and four sisters: Mildred, Lois, Carolyn, and Catherine.

Don is survived by one sister-in-law Linda Smith, brother-in-law Alvin and wife Jean Pesek, and many nieces and nephews.