Max Smith, age 64, of rural Yale, passed away Monday, May 6, 2024, at the Avera Heart Hospital at Sioux Falls.

His funeral service was held at 10:30 AM, Monday, May 13 at the Faith Mennonite Church, rural Iroquois. Burial was in the church cemetery.

View Max's Funeral Folder

His visitation was held from 2:00 to 4:00 PM, Sunday, May 12 at the Kuhler Funeral Home and continued from 6:00 to 8:00 PM, at the Faith Mennonite Church.

Max Smith, age 64, of rural Yale, passed away Monday, May 6, 2024, at the Avera Heart Hospital at Sioux Falls.

His funeral service will be held at 10:30 AM, Monday, May 13 at the Faith Mennonite Church, rural Iroquois. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

His visitation will be held from 2:00 to 4:00 PM, Sunday, May 12 at the Kuhler Funeral Home and will continue from 6:00 to 8:00 PM, at the Faith Mennonite Church.

Max A. Smith was born to Paul and Helen Jantz Smith, on October 20, 1959, in Newton, Kansas. He was unexpectedly called home on the evening of May 6, 2024.

His early childhood was spent in central Kansas near Hutchinson. When he was eight, the family moved to Leland, Mississippi, where he had many good times growing up as the youngest of four boys. Max gave his heart to the Lord and was baptized in to the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite on December 12, 1971, remaining true to his vows until the end. After finishing his education, Max joined his dad and brothers in the land-forming business. He was especially close to his brother, Merle and they did many things together – working, traveling and singing. Losing his mother when he was sixteen was a heartbreaking time in his life. In 1977, his dad married Viola Jantz, who has always been a steady rock for the family.

On May 18, 1980, Max married me, Starla Hiebert, at Iroquois, South Dakota. We shared the joys and sorrows of life for nearly 44 years. Max was affectionate by nature and was not sparing in his praise and compliments towards me. After two years of married life at Leland, we moved to South Dakota in 1982, to farm and ranch with my father. Three children, Jeremy, Justin and Natalie were born to us and we had many happy times together as a family. Family devotions were very important to him and his heartfelt prayers always included the unsaved and those who were facing difficult situations. Our children remember camping and fishing and going on trips to visit friends and relatives. Each fall, he looked forward to the camaraderie of the pheasant hunting with his boys and many long-time friends throughout the years. In recent years, it seemed he was always planning and looking forward to the next trip to Michigan to visit Natalie and her family and the many friends he made there.

The untimely deaths of two of his brothers left Max with heavy burdens. Searching for answers and consolation, he often sought comfort in his "Sweet Hour of Prayer".

Besides farming, Max did some custom work and also loved driving truck. He learned to love the wide-open spaces of South Dakota, as he drove the many miles across the state. He was an observer of nature and often commented on the sunrises, sunsets and the night skies on the open prairie. The last few years were spent farming with his son, Justin. He appreciated Justin's energy and innovative talents. His oldest son, Jeremy, lived just a half mile away with his young family, so they had much interaction. Max recently mentioned to Jeremy how much he appreciated that.

Max loved people and never knew a stranger. His magnetic personality and sense of humor won him many friends of all ages. One of his greatest delights was getting together with friends and family for food and fellowship. He especially loved the young people and took the opportunity to sing with them whenever he could. Singing was an important part of his life and he filled the song leader role for many years.

When his children were married, he welcomed their spouses with unconditional love. He rejoiced with each grandchild that was born and made it evident to each of them how special they were to him.

The past couple of years, he courageously fought cancer. He was very relieved and thankful when his last reports came back clear, although there were some other health issues he was dealing with. These experiences promoted a deepening of faith and commitment.

Left behind with broken hearts are his loving family: his wife, Starla; his sons, Jeremy and Jennae of Yale and Justin and Erica of De Smet; and his daughter, Natalie and Brandon Toews of Ithaca, Michigan; his nine grandchildren, Shane, Taylor and Brielle Smith, Kelsyn, Everleigh and Amelia Smith and Saylor, Coleman and Larkyn Toews; his step-mother, Viola Smith of Oakwood Manor, Brooksville, Mississippi; one brother, Denton Smith of Sunflower, Mississippi; his sisters-in-law, Marilyn Smith of Leland, Mississippi and Nona and Arlen Becker of Canton, Kansas; his mother-in-law, Rose Hiebert of Meadowlane Villa, Osceola, South Dakota; his sisters-in-law, Debbie and David Schmidt of Guntersville, Alabama, Susan and Larry Nightingale of Bloomfield, Iowa, Donella and Lyle Penner of Swan River, Manitoba, and Becky and Eugene Nightingale of Mountain Grove, Missouri; and many "favorite" nieces and nephews, cousins and good friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Merle and Doug; his father-in-law, Donald Hiebert; and a special friend, Roger Nichols.

View Max's Floral Arrangements