Andrew "Andy" Smith

Andrew Joseph Smith was born in Sioux City, IA on November 15, 1933 to Michael and Mary (Sadak) Smith. He grew up in Aberdeen, SD, attended St. Mary's Catholic School and graduated from Aberdeen Central High School in 1951.

Following graduation, he worked as a laborer for Great Northern Railroad. In 1954, he joined the Army and served as Company Clerk at Fort Campbell, KY. After his discharge, through the GI Bill, he attended and graduated from Northern State College in Aberdeen with a Bachelor of Science in Education with Honors, and Masters of Science in Education with honors. His first teaching position was at Ellsworth Air Force Base in Rapids City, SD.

In 1961, he was united in marriage to Sylvia (Sally) Schmitt at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Aberdeen. They moved to Madelia, MN where Andrew was employed as a sixth grade teacher. One year later he accepted the position of Elementary Principal. Their four children were born in Madelia. In 1971, the family moved to Pipestone, MN where Andrew was employed as Elementary Principal at Central, Woodstock, and Holland schools and later as Principal at Brown Elementary. In 1979, he was Title I Director and Remedial Reading teacher. Andrew retired in 1995.

Andrew was an active member of the community. He served on the Hiawatha Manor Board of Directors, the Ewert Recreation Center Board, was a volunteer for the Food Shelf and served as President of the Golden K. He was also an active member of St. Leo Catholic Church where he served on the Council, was a Lector and Eucharistic Minister.

Andrew was very passionate about exercise and sports. He was an avid cyclist and walker. He exercised daily at the Ewert Recreation Center until Parkinson's slowed him down. Andrew enjoyed spending time with his family and having coffee with friends and his fellow "philosophers" at McDonald's. Yet exercise continued to be a passion and he was a regular at the Parkinson's Rock Steady Boxing therapy class at Pipestone County Medical Center.

Andrew entered the Good Samaritan home in October 2024 and passed away on March 11, 2025 at the age of 91.

Andrew is lovingly remembered by his wife, Sylvia, children, Jennifer (Bruce) Blocker of Burnsville, MN, Laura (Patrick) Kinney of Ashland, WI, Charles Smith of San Antonio, TX, Stacey (Kenny) Rolling of Luverne, MN; and grandchildren, Brett and Benjamin Blocker, Anthony and Paul Smith and their mother, Ana Yanguez and Henry and Kate Rolling.