William F. "Bill" Smith, age 99, of Huron, died Monday, May 4, 2015, at the SunQuest Health Care Center. A private family memorial service was held at the Kuhler Funeral Home.
William Frederick Smith, Jr. was born on December 1, 1915, to William F. and Ann D. (White) Smith at Huron. He attended Huron schools, and graduate in 1936. Bill also attended Northwest College of Commerce. He started working for the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad in 1936 at Huron.
On June 17, 1939, Bill married LaVerne M. Anderson at Wessington Springs. They made their home in Huron. Bill served in the United States Army during World War II, as a Supply Sergeant, Company A - 96th Training Battalion attached to the 2nd Army at Ft. Benjamin Harrison, Indiana. He was honorably discharged on July 23, 1946.
He continued to work for Chicago and Northwestern Railroad for forty years at stations at Miller, Huron, Brookings, Redfield, Yankton and Oakes, North Dakota. His last eighteen years he was in the Chicago and Northwestern car department at Huron, retiring in January 1976.
Bill was a member of the America Legion Post #7, American Lutheran Church, BRAC Union, HCCA, Vintage Ford Club, Restorer Model A. Ford Club, and the Huron Area Power Show.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife of 64 years, LaVerne who died May 12, 2003; three brothers, George, Edward and John; and one grandson, Matt.
Grateful for having shared his life are three sons, Scott (Cheryl) Smith of Olathe, Kansas, Mark Smith of Huron, and Mike (Linda) Smith of Lenexa, Kansas; four grandchildren, Brian (Stephanie) Smith of Knoxville, Tennessee, Maggie Smith of Wichita KS, Brooke Smith of Knoxville, Tennessee, and Giovanni Caniglia of Tokyo, Japan; and two great-grandchildren, Sage and Connor; and two sisters, Jean Bauder and Aletha Tillman, both of Huron.