Duane E. “Smitty” Smith was born April 14, 1938 at Faulkton, SD to Harry and Clara (Kuhl) Smith. He graduated from Faulkton High School in 1956. He served in the US Army from 1957 to 1958 where he was stationed in Germany.
Smitty married Judy Witte on August 1, 1959 in Orient, SD. They made their home in Rapid City. He worked several years as a mechanic for Allis Chalmers and Caterpillar. They moved to Hermosa in 1971 and worked on ranches. They also lived a short time at Ardmore, SD. Smitty ran the chip loading plant at Hermosa for 15 years. In later years, he maintained the rural water line at Hermosa and worked for Korkow Rodeos of Blunt, SD. He raised bucking horses and enjoyed helping kids get started in rodeo. He helped organize and run the Southwest Dakota 4-H Rodeo for 40 years. He also assisted with the Hermosa Labor Day Rodeo and several high school and Little Britches Rodeos for several years. They sold their home place in Hermosa in 2020 and moved to Hot Springs for a short time and then back to Hermosa.
He is survived by his wife Judy Smith of Hermosa; son Dennis and wife Beckie and their daughter Erin, son Dusty and wife Meagan and their children Kyla, Lane, and Luke; son Jack and wife Laurie and their son Jake and wife Kasey and their children Saylor and Slade, daughter Melinda and husband James Pease and their children Cade and Samuel; son Lee and wife Jaycie and their son Chet and wife Chelsea and their son Hendrix; daughter Frankie and husband Jerad Stone, son Cody and fiancé Chase, and daughter Kelsey Matthew; sister Joann and husband Dean Robedeau of Mitchell; and sister-in-law Phyllis Smith of Hartford, SD.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Harry and Clara Smith, and brother Lloyd.
Services will be held at Kirk Funeral Home on Friday, January 2nd, with visitation at 1:15 pm and the funeral at 2 pm. Committal will follow at Highland Park Cemetery in Hermosa. A reception will follow at the American Legion on St Patrick Street in Rapid City.
