Clyde Smith

Submitted Story

Published: Wednesday, May 6th, 2009

  Clyde Wesley Smith was born Aug. 24, 1908, to Elizabeth (Furhmann) and John Wesley Smith at the family ranch home, the youngest of four children. He learned ranching at a young age, however was sent to Chadron, Neb., for schooling and graduated from high school there.  He attended the School of Mines in Rapid City, S.D., for one year, and then transferred to the School of Engineering in Milwaukee, Wis., for a six month course in radio. He returned to Rapid City to work repairing radios and played the saxophone in an orchestra and taught music. He met his wife, Marie Elizabeth (Mihills) Smith, at the Dance Pavilion in Baken Park in Rapid City and they were married Dec. 24, 1931, in Scottsbluff, Neb. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 1981, sponsored by their nieces, Martha and Lettie. Clyde’s proud remembrances were the picture of him beside President Coolidge’s car in 1927 at the Hermosa (S.D.) Church, and his being honored by the Custer County Fair Board for his contributions for the new buildings built at the fairgrounds. After returning to the ranch, he raised cattle and had a large garden and beautiful flowers. He participated as an exhibitor at the Custer County (S.D.) Fair for many years with the garden produce and lovely gladioluses.  Clyde, of Rapid City, and formerly of Fairburn, S.D., died Saturday, May 2, 2009, at Holiday Hills Estates in Rapid City. He was 100. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Marie, in 1984; brother, Von; and two sisters, LaDonna Dobruskey and Nona McDermand. He is survived by four nieces, Martha Smith of Fairburn, Lettie Yarina of Tucson, Ariz., Edna Mann of Palo Alto, Calif., and Betty Harold of Palo Alto; great niece, Anna McDermand of Edgemont, S.D.; and several great-and great-great nieces and nephews. Visitation will be held Thursday, May 7,  from 10-11 a.m. at Kirk Funeral Home in Rapid City. Funeral services will be Thursday, May 7, at 11 a.m. at Kirk Funeral Home with Pastor Herb Cleveland officiating. Inurnment will be May 8 at 11 a.m. at the Fairburn Cemetery.  A luncheon will follow at the Fairburn Methodist Church. Memorials have been established to the Fairburn Cemetery and the Fairburn Methodist Church. Family and friends may sign Clyde’s online guestbook at www.kirkfuneralhome.com.