David Eugene Smith

David (“Skip”) Eugene Smith, age 79, of New Brighton, MN, died of cancer on August 9, 2025.

Skip was an alumnus of Delano High School (‘64) and Augsburg University, earning a bachelor’s degree in history. He was drafted and served in Vietnam as a Sergeant in the Army, receiving the Army Commendation Medal with Valor in 1970. He worked as a business administrator in aerospace electronics at Honeywell for 34 years. He was passionate about baseball, as both a player and manager of the Delano A’s, where he met the love of his life, Alicia (Schumacher), and many lifelong friends. He was a longtime disgruntled fan of the Twins and a loyal supporter of Gopher athletics. He could spend hours watching the birds at his feeders and enjoyed pheasant hunting with family. He was an avid reader of historical non-fiction. We will all miss his famous teasing humor and the love he gave to his friends and family, the most important thing to him. He is survived by: Alicia, married almost 55 years; his daughter Sarah (Peter) and their daughter Mae, whom Grandpa adored; daughter Caryn (Jordan); brother Dale (Jan); and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Urban and Borghild, and his sisters, Joyce (Don), Beverly (Paul) and Avis (Phil).

A celebration of life will be held at 12:00 PM, Monday, August 18, at Banquets of Minnesota, 6310 Hwy 65 NE, Fridley 55432. Private family burial to be held at Fort Snelling National Cemetery at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, please consider memorials to Ralph Reeder Food Shelf in Mounds View, MN or the Sisters Retirement Fund of St. Benedict’s Monastery, St. Joseph, MN.