Elerta "Bunny" K. Smith

Elerta Katherine Smith was born in Tyndall, SD on September 24, 1922 to CJ and Catherine (Beringer) Ribble. She graduated from Tyndall High School in 1940. On January 2, 1946 she was united in marriage to Don H. Smith in St. Leo Catholic Church. They lived in Milwaukee, Wisconsin for one year, where she worked as a clerk for a wholesale tool distributing company while Don attended and completed his training at the Milwaukee School of Engineering. They returned to South Dakota in 1947 and lived there the rest of their married life.
After high school graduation, Elerta worked in offices in Tyndall, Springfield and Yankton. In 1942 she began working in the Bon Homme County Selective Service Office until her marriage. In Scotland she worked for Wm Hansen, Quinn & Moore, Scotland High School and as an office clerk for the Scotland Creamery for 21 years, retiring in 1976.
She was a devout member of St. George Catholic Church, a past member of the Altar Society and volunteer Rosary leader. She enjoyed weekly visits to the Good Samaritan Center, delivered meals on wheels and was a former Brownie Scout leader. She was also a past member of the civic club and hospital auxiliary.
Elerta enjoyed many travels with her family, camping and fishing trips with Don and their annual vacations to Lake Okoboji with longtime friends from Fort Dodge, Iowa. She loved and lived her Catholic faith.
Elerta loved dogs especially Babe, Dolly Tootsie. She spent the last three years in the company of her beloved boy Skylar Mason Brown whom she referred to as “the cutest boy in town.”
Survivors include special nieces Amy Ribble-Modjeski and her husband Michael and their daughters Katelyn and Amanda; Lisa M. Kortan, who lived with and cared for Elerta during her illness and passing, and other relatives and longtime friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; sisters Margaret V. Ribble in 1993, Dorothy M. Kortan in 1977; her brother Earl H. Ribble in 1998, infant brother Charles; her husband and soulmate Don in 2003; sister-in-law Audrey Ribble in 2006; nephew Terry Kortan in 1984; brother-in-law Laddie Kortan in 1993; niece Christiana Holmes in 2016 and nephew Howard Brunner.
Elerta enjoyed each member of the Avera hospice team who visited. The family is appreciative of the care and comfort they provided.

Funeral Mass Saturday November 30th, 2019 10:30 am at Saint George's Catholic Scotland, SD

Friday November 29, 2019 6 pm to 7 pm at Saint George's Catholic Scotland, SD