Janice Smith

Funeral services for Janice Smith were held on Friday, November 5, 2021, at 10:30 a.m., at the Sacred Heart Church in Burke, SD, with Father Jonathan Dillon officiating.

Lectors were Sarah Bottjen, Elly Daisy, and Jackie Hamanaka, servers were Noah Buhta and Dawson York, and gift bearers were Jennifer Millage and Grant Buhta.

Music was provided by the Sacred Heart Choir, vocalists, accompanied by Jan Determan, organist. Emily Vitek and Amber Horn were in charge of registration. Cindy and Tim Talsma and Dolores and Jim Moore were flower attendants.

Casket bearers were Ben Smith, Nick Smith, Nathan Smith, Jordan Smith, Gavin York, and Teresa Klug. Honorary casket bearers were all of her great-grandchildren.

Interment was in the Graceland Cemetery in Burke, SD. Clausen Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Janice Marie (Kahler) Smith was born in Burke, SD, to Ted and Ella (Engelhart) Kahler on January 23, 1941. She grew up in the Burke area, spending most of the time on a farm south of Burke. In high school she enjoyed playing bass drum in marching band and cheerleading. She graduated from Burke High School in 1959, and went on to Southern State Teachers College in Springfield, SD. Her friends from both high school and college were lifelong and she enjoyed their visits. After college she taught country school for one year.

On August 12, 1961, she was married to Leroy Smith and was married for 53 years until his death. They farmed and raised their family north of Burke. She enjoyed her time on the farm with family and neighbors. While not an avid traveler, her once in a lifetime trip to England was a memory she loved to share. Janice was an avid sports fan, especially of anything her family was playing in.

Janice was proud to be from Burke and was active in the community. She volunteered for many organizations including 4-H, FCCLA, and the school. She also worked at Burke School for over 19 years. She enjoyed working with the kids at school and took great pride in helping them to succeed.

Janice’s Catholic faith was a top priority, and she shared that faith with her husband, children, and grandchildren. She also shared it with the community as she was a Catechism teacher for over 30 years, a member of the Burke Altar Society, and the Catholic Daughters. One highlight of her faith was her trip to Denver to see the Pope.

Janice passed away on October 28, 2021, at the Burke Memorial Hospital.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Leroy; her parents, Ted and Ella; her in-laws, Elmer and Cloris Smith; her siblings, Fay, Duane, and Joey Kahler; her son-in-law, Tony Opbroek; and brother-in-law, Don Lenz.

Janice is survived by her five children: Sherry Opbroek of Burke, SD, Ray (Donna) of Philip, SD, Rick (Pat) of Sioux Falls, SD, Annie (Brandon) York of Burke, SD; Tina (Austin) Buhta of Lennox, SD; 15 grandchildren; 20 great grandchildren; sister Barb (Don) Petersen of Gregory, SD; sisters-in-law Carol Kahler of Alexandria, SD, Margie (Duane) Veldheer of Zeeland, MI, and Rose (Dan) Veatch of Vermillion, SD; as well as a host of nephews, nieces, cousins, and friends.