With heavy hearts, our beloved Arlys Smith, age 76, of Spearfish, SD, lost her battle with pancreatic cancer on March 10, 2025.
She was surrounded by her loving husband, family and friends.
A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, March 15 at 2:00 p.m. at the Spearfish United Methodist Church.
Arlys was born May 6, 1948, in Gackle, ND, to Dorothy and Marlynn Isaak. She lived on a small North Dakota farm until 1956 when her father took a job at the Homestake Mine in Lead, South Dakota. She graduated from Lead High School in 1967. In 1976, she met and married her forever love, Clyde, while working the night shift as a police dispatcher.
Arlys was a very talented, hard-working, and driven woman. She had several unique occupations, which included dog catcher, meter maid, police dispatcher, dental office receptionist, and optical technician. She was well known and sought out by many to adjust their glasses. People drove many miles out of their way to see her and have her adjust their glasses; people would stop her in the middle of the store for her to look at their glasses.
After retirement, she put her other talents to work. She baked and cooked for hours to provide special treats for her neighbors, former co-workers, church, and family. Additionally, she was a very precise quilter; she often took apart completed work, adjusted it, and repeated it to ensure that lines and corners were perfect. Unique life experiences included being a member of the Terry Peak Courtesy Patrol; she skied at most major ski areas in the United States, crowned Sweetheart at a high school ball, Vice President of Future Homemakers of America, rode in a mule-driven wagon from Ft. Pierre to Deadwood, and drove a mule driven wagon from Sidney, NE to Deadwood.
She is preceded in death by her brother, Merlin, father, Marlynn, mother, Dorothy, and nephew, Mark. Arlys is survived by husband, Clyde, daughter Shannon Shaffer (Joe), granddaughter Karlie Shaffer, grandson Karson Shaffer, brothers Don Irion (Gladys), Larry Isaak (Phyllis), Mike (JoAnn) and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established at Spearfish United Methodist Church in Spearfish, South Dakota.
