Sharon M. Smith was born January 26th, 1941 to Edmund and Hildegard (Keller) Ellwein in Freeman South Dakota. She passed away on Wednesday, October 23, 2013, from renal cancer.
She was baptized and confirmed at Heilbronn Lutheran Church in rural Freeman SD. Sharon attended 8 years of country school and graduated from Freeman High School in 1959. She married Stewart D. Smith on June 9, 1962 at Zion Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls, SD and together raised their three sons. Sharon was a member of Ben Clare United Methodist Church for over 40 years where she taught Sunday school and was the church organist for many years. She was also a member of the United Methodist Women’s circle. For 25 years, Sharon worked at several different companies, retiring from Citibank in March of 2007. She enjoyed reading, music, flowers, feeding and watching the birds in her back yard, and camping with her husband. She enjoyed being a mother, homemaker and spending time with her grandchildren.
Grateful for having shared her life are her husband of 51 years, Stewart; sons, Randall Smith and wife Tammi, Sioux Falls, Russell Smith, Maplewood MN, Ryan Smith and wife Angela, Redmond WA; grandchildren Marissa Smith and Dillon Smith; one step-granddaughter Natasha (Rob) Justice; six step-great-grandchildren; sisters Leila and her husband Harley Becker,Topeka KS, Mildred Bowman, Oakdale, CA, brother Myron Ellwein and his wife Neva, Delano, MN, Brother in law Robert Smith and wife Marilyn, Dell Rapids SD, and many treasured nieces and nephews.
Sharon was preceded in death by her parents, 3 sisters, Lucille Schultz, Ramona Ellwein and Renee Ellwein, Brother in law Gary Bowman and nephew James Schultz.
The family would like to thank all of the friends and relatives for their support during Sharon’s illness. Sharon was comforted by their visits and cherished them very much.
The family requests that memorials be directed to the American Cancer Society.
Visitation with the family present will be from 3 to 5 pm on Sunday, October 27, 2013, at Miller Funeral Home, 13th & Main. A funeral service will be held at 11 am on Monday, October 28, 2013, at First United Methodist Church with burial at Pleasant View Cemetery in Valley Springs, SD.