The Memorial Service for Joann M. Smith, age 77 of Prairie City, will be held at 2:00pm, Tuesday, March 23, 2010 at the American Lutheran Church in Bison with Pastor Marjorie Hershey and Pastor Brad Burkhalter, officiating.

A Private Family Inurnment at a later date in the Prairie City Cemetery.

Special music will be provided by Peggy Veal, Tracy and Todd Buer.


Joann Marie Randall was born September 18, 1932 in Lemmon, SD to Kenneth and Mary (Fuller) Randall. She attended grade school in Date, SD and graduated from Bison High School. On December 28, 1949 she married Clair Smith, the love of her life, at Homme Lutheran Church in Prairie City. They began their life together on a ranch on Rabbit Creek south of Strool. They later moved to, and subsequently purchased, Clair's parent's farm at Strool in 1957 where they raised their family of six daughters.


Joann was a friendly, kind woman, who greeted people with her radiant smile. She was very busy with her family, tending a garden, manicuring her yard with pride, and caring for her bum lambs. She was an avid softball player and loved Saturday night dances in Sorum. She faithfully raised the American flag and babied her pet cats, as well as the wild pheasants that roamed into her yard. Joann cultivated the love of music and appreciation for poetry in her daughters.


Joann was a member of the Homme Lutheran Church and Ladies Aide in Prairie City. She was a Sunday School and Bible School teacher. Joann faithfully helped with work projects at the church. She was a 4-H Leader and encouraged her daughters to take active roles. Joann was a school board member and campaigned for a book mobile in Perkins County.


Joann passed away peacefully on Friday afternoon, March 19, 2010 at the Rapid City Regional Hospital.


Joann will be deeply missed by her 6 daughters, Rhoda Hilden, Lead, SD; Roxanne Seaman, Prairie City, SD; Elaine (James) Bingaman, Prairie City, SD; Cathy (Leslie) Johnson, Bison, SD; Mary Ann (Joseph) Brandli, Baltimore, MD; Julie Elvestad, Evansville, WY; 13 grandchildren, Cory(Vanessa) Seaman, Cody Smith, Amber (Luke) Wiechmann, Rebecca Bingaman; Stephanie, Anna, Joshua & Charlotte Johnson; Liza & Nathan Brandli; Chelsey, Benjamin & Olivia Elvestad; 6 great grandchildren, Cort, Theresina, Lorelei & Lynley Seaman; Lucille & Amos Wiechmann; her mother, Mary Randall, Prairie City, SD, 2 brothers, Kenneth Randall Jr., Prairie City, SD, & Micheal Randall, Deadwood, SD; & numerous nieces and nephews.


She was preceded in death by her father, Kenneth Randall Sr., her husband, Clair Smith, and 1 sister, Eva Quatier.


A memorial has been established to the Prairie City Fire Department and the Bison Ambulance.