Annette Smith, 78, passed away on Saturday, October 4, 2025 in Spearfish, SD.
Annette was born March 20, 1947, in Hot Springs, SD to Donald and Mary Bell (Marty) Nelson. She was the youngest of four. She grew up on the family ranch west of Hot Springs where her father raised registered Hereford cattle. She attended the Minnekahta School through grade school and then went on to high school in Hot Springs. Annette graduated from Hot Springs High School in 1965 and moved to Custer, SD where she worked at the Black Hills National Forest office.
Annette married E.H. “Bud” Knight in 1967 in Custer where the couple lived until 1974. The couple had one child, Starla, born in 1970. The couple moved to Aladdin, Wyoming in 1975 and then Sturgis in 1976 where Annette worked at Sturgis Livestock Exchange as well as a clerk at farm/ranch auctions for Bud’s auction company and a timer/secretary for many rodeos her husband announced.
In November 1982 Annette married Claude Smith and Craig, Laurel and Kristin became her stepchildren. Annette worked as the district clerk for the Buffalo Gap National Grasslands. She enjoyed her job and made many good friends through it. She was also always busy with ranch work and she and Claude researched and implemented Holistic Resource Management to improve the native grasses on their ranch and later instruct others about the practices.
They decided later to purchase a ranch south of Newcastle in Wyoming and made the change from cattle to buffalo which was a new adventure for them both. Annette served on the Board of Directors for the Dakota Territory Buffalo Association as well as Chair of the Financial Regulations Committee. In addition, she served on the Education and Research Committee.
They made many friends in the ranching community and enjoyed gathering and often hosting a bible study. After selling the ranch, they moved to Spearfish and later Rapid City where they lived in a retirement community until health no longer permitted.
Annette had a love of history and was an accomplished wood worker, decorating her home with many antique furnishings she refinished herself. She also loved livestock and the sport of rodeo.
Annette is survived by her daughter Starla (Charlie) Paschall of Gillette, WY, Craig (Kathleen) of Mesa, AZ, Laurel (David) Daley of Rapid City, Kristin (Satoshi) Shitara of Japan as well as nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Claude, her parents, two sisters Loraine and Lora Louise and her brother, Donald “Ike” Nelson.
Annette will be remembered with love by her family and friends.
Memorial services were on Thursday, October 16, 2025 at Fidler-Isburg Funeral Chapel in Spearfish. Burial took place Friday, October 17, 2025 at the Minnekahta Cemetery west of Hot Springs, SD.
Arrangements were under the care of Fidler-Isburg Funeral Chapels and Isburg Crematory of Spearfish. Online condolences may be written at www.fidler-isburgfuneralchapels.com