Merlan "Smitty" Smith, age 65, of Huron, died Monday, November 28, 2016, at the Emergency Room at the Huron Regional Medical Center. His funeral service wasat 11 AM Friday, December 2nd at the Kuhler Funeral Home, followed by cremation and burial of his cremated remains at the Wessington Cemetery.
Merlan Edward Smith was born on July 13, 1951, at Huron to Winston David and Marjorie Charlotte (Hawkins) Smith. He grew up on a farm south of Iroquois, and graduated from High School in Iroquois in 1970. While he was growing up his family moved to Lead, SD where his dad worked as a miner, and they later moved to Ely, Nevada. Merlan always spent his summers with Merle and Eva Strickler near Esmond, South Dakota. Following his graduation from High School he worked at Flannery's and then Huron Dressed Beef, Bievers Bulk Oil in Iroquois, then several farmers in the Iroquois area."Smitty" then went to work at Terex. He left there and went to work at JeLuSS for a time and then back to Terex where he retired from on May 2, 2016.
"Smitty's" hobbies and interests were people, he never met a stranger who didn't become a friend. He was an "Idea man" and had lots of projects going. He also enjoyed working with wood. "Smitty" loved to mow his "green acres" fish, travel, ride motorcycle, never missed the kids' activities and was a friend of Bill W. for forty years.
His parents preceded him in death.
Survivors include his wife, Toni; his brother, Roger David Smith of Green River, Wyoming; his brother-in-law, Roger Sass of Huron and his family; two God-sons, Brendan and Devin Letsche; one God-daughter, Melinda Salas; special friends, Jason and Jessie Schley and their children, Jaren, Jase and Jayla Schley; and Paul and Carol Whatley and their children, Noah and Ellie Whatley; and his family friends of Bill and Lois W.