Funeral services for S. Clair Smith, age 77, longtime Prairie City farmer and rancher, will be held 2:00 p.m. Saturday, May 27, at the American Lutheran Church in Bison. Pastor Brad Burkhalter and Pastor Henry Mohagen will officiate. Burial will be in the Prairie City Cemetery, following a time of fellowship and refreshment at the church. Casketbearers will include Brad, Chris and Casey Besler, Tom Brockel, Greg Covey and Andrew Hulm with all family, friends and neighbors considered honorary bearers. Special music will be provided by Genevie Kopren, organist; Mary Ann Brandli, flutist; Julie Elvestad and Pete Buer, soloists; and Bridget & Shelly Besler, vocalists. A memorial has been established.

Visitations will be Friday afternoon and evening with a family service at 7:00 p.m. at the Evanson-Jensen Funeral Home in Lemmon. He will also lie in state at the church one hour prior to the service on Saturday.


Clair passed away on Tuesday, May 23, at the Rapid City Regional Hospital.


S. Clair Smith was born in Hettinger, ND on Nov. 19, 1928 to Sam and Anna (Larson) Smith. He attended grade school at Glendo, SD and then attended high school in Hettinger, ND and Leadville, CO. At the early age of 20 Clair purchased a ranch on Rabbit Creek, south of Prairie City.


On Dec. 28, 1949, Clair and Joann Randall were united in marriage at the Homme Lutheran Church in Prairie City and began their life together at the ranch on Rabbit Creek. They later moved to, and subsequently purchased, Clair's parents' farm at Strool in 1957 where they raised their family of six daughters.


Clair was a soft spoken kind man who had a remarkable memory for telling jokes. He enjoyed playing pinochle, playing pool, watching baseball, and hunting pheasant. In his younger days, Clair's interest in sparring led to the title of a "Golden Gloves Boxer" in Colorado. He truly enjoyed working with horses, roping and helping his daughters in 4-H preparing for horse shows and rodeos. He built a roping arena on the ranch and hosted ropings twice weekly for many years. In 1979, Clair initiated an 85 mile trail drive with family and friends, trailing 1500 head of yearling cattle to the Belle Fourche Livestock Exchange. This endeavor was one of the highlights of his life. He also enjoyed the many brandings with his girls and neighbors over the years. His love for horses was never ending. Although he dearly loved the ranch life, due to health concerns in the early 1980's he sold the livestock and expanded the farming operation, with his wife working closely by his side.


He was a longtime school board member and was instrumental in building the Strool School in Prairie City. He also was a member of the Homme Lutheran Church and served on the church board for many years.


Clair will be deeply missed by his wife of 57 years, Joann, 6 daughters, Rhoda & Ronald Hilden, Dickinson, ND; Roxanne Seaman, Prairie City, SD; Elaine & James Bingaman, Prairie City, SD; Cathy & Leslie Johnson, Bison, SD; Mary Ann & Joe Brandli, Baltimore, MD; Julie & Gregory Elvestad, Evansville, WY; 14 grandchildren, Cory Seaman, Cody Smith; Amber & Rebecca Bingaman; Stephanie, Anna, Joshua, & Charlotte Johnson; Liza & Nathan Brandli; Chelsey, Benjamin, & Olivia Elvestad; 3 great grandchildren, Cort, Theresina, & Lorelei Seaman. 1 brother, Gene Smith; 2 sisters, Barbara and Wayne Besler; Ramona and Lester Brockel, all of Bison, SD.


He was preceded in death by his parents, Anna & Sam Smith; 1 brother, Donald Smith and 1 sister Cleo Covey.