Lella Smith Obituary
Lella Lee Smith, 94, of Rapid City and formerly of Belle Fourche died October 7, 2024 at the Good Samaritan St. Martin Village in Rapid City.
Lella was born September 29, 1930 in Belle Fourche to Louis and Etta (Richardson) Shelden. She spent her entire childhood growing up on a ranch near Hulett, WY with her parents, two sisters and two brothers.
She taught rural schools for 2 years in Wyoming before moving to Belle Fourche in 1960. Lella married Richard J. Smith on October 3, 1963 in Belle Fourche and became a homemaker and dedicated her life to raising her family. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Belle Fourche where she played the piano for over 30 years at the church. She loved her church. In 2007 she moved to Rapid City where she has since lived.
Lella enjoyed playing the piano, sewing, painting, baking, gardening, motorcycling with her husband and spending time with her family. She loved her family.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Louis and Etta Shelden; her husband, Richard Smith; her sisters, Jean Dabney and Barbara Storm; brothers, Griffin Shelden and Dan Shelden.
She is survived by her children, Tom (Tonya) Stokes of Anchorage, AK, Sandy (Paul) Pazen of Ft. Collins, CO, Jackie, (Al) Spreizer of Rapid City and Judy (Bob) Domalewski of Rapid City; grandchildren, Brad Stokes, Chris Fryda, Siera Morado, Becky Stokes, Dan Stokes, Jay Stokes, Ben Anderson and Aaron Anderson and numerous great grandchildren.
Visitation will be one hour before services at the church. Funeral services will be held Monday, October 14 at 11:00 am at the First Baptist Church in Belle Fourche with Pastor Tim Smith officiating. Interment will be held Tuesday, October 15 at 10:30 am at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis.
The family suggests memorial donations to the First Baptist Church in Belle Fourche.
The funeral will be livestreamed and can be viewed on Lella's obituary page at klinefunreralchapel.com
An online guest book is available at klinefuneralchapel.com
Legacy.com reports daily on death announcements in local communities nationwide. Visit our funeral home directory for more local information, or see our FAQ page for help with finding obituaries and sending sympathy.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
How you can show support
Notify Me
Get email updates whenever changes are made.
Send flowers
Consider sending flowers.
Add photos
Share their life with photo memories.
Plant trees
Honor them by planting trees in their memory.
Donate in Memory
Make a donation in memory of your loved one.
Share this page
Invite other friends and family to visit the page.
0 Entries
Be the first to post a memory or condolences.
838 State St, Belle Fourche, SD 57717
Make a Donation
in Lella Smith's name
People and places connected with Lella
How to support Lella's loved ones
Should I Send Sympathy Flowers?
What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?
Read more
What Should I Write in a Sympathy Card?
We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.
Read more
Resources to help you cope with loss
How to Cope With Grief
Information and advice to help you cope with the death of someone important to you.
Read more
Estate Settlement Guide
If you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.
Read more
Obituaries, grief & privacy: Legacy’s news editor on NPR podcast
Legacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.
Read moreWays to honor Lella Smith's life and legacy
Obituary Examples
You may find these well-written obituary examples helpful as you write about your own family.
Read more
Obituary Templates – Customizable Examples and Samples
These free blank templates make writing an obituary faster and easier.
Read more
How Do I Write a Eulogy?
Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love.
Read more
