John L. Smith

FORT PIERRE - On May 7, 2011, Johnny Smith's trail of life led him to heaven where he joined the cowboy greats who have passed before him.

John L. Smith was born July 3, 1944, in Presho to True and Wilma (Scott) Smith. He attended grade school at the Consolidated Country School south of Fort Pierre. He attended Pierre Riggs High and graduated in 1962. After graduation Johnny attended South Dakota State University until the time he went to the Fort Smith (Ark.) Auctioneer School. He served as a member of the South Dakota National Guard from 1966-1972.

He married Janice Gray in 1967 and went to work for Leif Hanson at Fort Pierre Livestock Auction. He

then partnered with Jess Shaull, Nathan Shaull, and Hoss Roseland at the Highmore Sale Barn and then returned to the Fort Pierre Livestock Auction in 1984, and remained there until his death.

He took special interest in announcing any events he could - you could recognize his voice over the speakers at many 4-H rodeos, Casey Tibbs Match of Champions, Horse Races, benefit auctions, Fourth of July rodeos and parades, as well at the Sale Barn doing what he loved best. He could be heard every Saturday morning on the radio with the cattle report and of course his support of the agricultural world. Deemed as "Mr. Fort Pierre" by Bernie Hunhoff in the South Dakota Magazine, Johnny's accomplishments and involvement in the livestock world were endless. He was an instrumental founder for R-Calf and was still a board member at the time of his death.

One of his greatest achievements was the Casey Tibbs Rodeo Center and he served as a proud board member there as well.

Known as Johnny Claus to many children, Christmas was one of his favorite times of the year. Anywhere from shopping at all hours of the night to stringing Christmas lights with the help of his recruits, he enjoyed it all. You didn't have to be family to get a gift as he supplied presents to children who may have otherwise not had a Christmas.

He was president of the South Dakota Livestock Auction Markets Association from 1996-1998. In 1999 he was honored by the Black Hills Angus Association as Angus promoter.

R-Calf honored him for outstanding service and support of the U.S. Cattle Industry in 2006. He received the SDSU Friend of the Beef Industry Award in 2006, was inducted into the Casey Tibbs Hall of Fame in 2010 as Rodeo promoter, as well as being honored for his 36-years of announcing the Fourth of July Rodeo in 2010. While these were only a few of many he was an honored ambassador for the cattle industry logging many miles from coast to coast. He will always be honored as the world's greatest uncle and grandpa.

Survivors include his mother, Wilma Smith of Fort Pierre; a sister, Patsy Aiken of Spearfish; three brothers, Larry (Mona) Smith and Cody (Sarah) Smith, all of Fort Pierre, and Ben (Wendy) Smith of Pierre; and nieces and nephews, Tanner and Tessa Aiken, Sarah, Taylor and Nicole Smith, Casey (Monica) Smith and Amanda (AJ) Stoeser, and Jessica, Baillie, and Maddie Smith. Also surviving are his loving partner, Sherri Reitz of Fort Pierre; her children, Jason (Nicole) Reitz of Rapid City, Michael (Wendy) Reitz of Brookings, and Mandi (Bill) Trebbe of Rapid City; grandchildren, Sheldon and Kaiden Reitz, Peyton, Kolton, Carson, Jordyn Reitz, Justin Trebbe, and Janice Smith; brother-in-law, Steve (Beth) Gray; and nieces and nephews, Cory Gray, Jaydeen Fish, Aarik Gray, Zade Gray, Brogan Gray, Dawn Hrncir, Jeff Hrncir and Matthew Hrncir.

He is preceded death by his father, True Smith; a sister, Trudy Smith; and his paternal and maternal grandparents.

Memorials can be directed to the Pierre Kidney Dialysis Unit and the Casey Tibbs Rodeo Center to commission a bronze statue of Billy Etbauer and the great horse Painted Valley.

Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. (CDT), with a Celebration of Life service following at 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 11 at the Fort Pierre Livestock Auction.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. (CDT) Thursday, May 12 at the Casey Tibbs Rodeo Center in Fort Pierre. Burial will be at Riverside Cemetery.

Isburg Funeral Chapel of Pierre has been placed in care of the arrangements. Online condolences may be sent to www.isburgfuneralchapels.com.