George R. Smith Sr. age 63 of Buffalo, died Tuesday June 10, 2008 at the Ft. Meade VA Medical Center in Sturgis.

The funeral service will be held 10:30 AM Monday June 16th, 2008 at the Buffalo REC Center in Buffalo with Rev. Susan Fox officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. Arrangements are with Funeral Home of the Northern Hills in Belle Fourche. Interment will be held in the Black Hills National Cemetery.

George Raefield Smith Sr. was born August 18, 1944 at Buffalo, SD. He was the son of J. Richard and Martha (Anderson) Smith. He grew up in Harding County, was baptized and confirmed in Grand River Lutheran Church, and attended school at Basin Valley and Buffalo Schools.

George served his country in the U.S. Army from 1965-1967, serving time in Vietnam. After returning home he worked for various ranches in Harding and Butte County. In 1968 he married Mary Ann Lopez in Sturgis, SD. To this union three children were born - Leann and twin boys, Glen and George Jr. The family lived several years in Reeder, ND where George worked for Reeder Equity. Later they moved to Poplar, MT where he was manager for the grain elevator. George also worked in and around Belle Fourche, and for S&S Trucking in Colony, WY. After his knees no longer allowed him to work, George retired in Buffalo, SD.

He thoroughly enjoyed his little granddaughters (his "dollies"), grandsons, grand nieces, and grand nephews. His favorite past time was fishing and tinkering with old pickups and cars to see if he could keep them running. He was an excellent barber, and gave his mother and family members a trim now and then. Playing Solitaire and reading Louis L'Amour occupied much of his time in the last few years.

He is survived by: his wife Mary Ann of Buffalo; daughter Leann (and Robert) Camirand of Reeder, ND; sons Glen (and Dorinda) of Gillette, WY, George Jr. (and Shelia) of Hinesville, GA; his beloved grandchildren Shayde, Taten, Tucker, Glen Jr. (Paco), C'era, Echo, Saunda, Shalayna, Hailey, and twin grandsons Kayden and George III; mother Martha Sabo of Buffalo; six brothers, Richard (and Marie) of Buffalo, Conrad (and Kaye) of Ludow SD, Ken (and Carol) of Buffalo, David( and Paula) of Buffalo, Fred (and Karen) of Buffalo, and Ed Smith of Buffalo; four sisters, Carol (and Wesley) Schalesky of Newell, SD, Margaretta (and Gene) Ladson of Belle Fourche, SD, Venoy (and Willy) Tenold of Reva, SD, Evie (and Dan) Flees of Wichta, KS; and numerous, numerous nieces and nephews and grand nieces and grand nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father, J. Richard Smith, his sister Joann, and beloved grandson, Tyrel William Brengle.