HOOVER | Patricia Jane Smith, 81, died Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2012, at Sturgis Regional Senior Care.

Pat was born Feb. 28, 1930, at Okobojo, SD, to Merl and Nora (VanDyke) Badger. She grew up in the Pierre area where she attended country school. The family moved to Trojan during the drought where her dad found employment at the mine. She lived near Crow Peak and attended Spearfish Normal in the early 40s. They moved back to north of Pierre and attended school in Onida. They moved around but always returned to the Pierre area. Back then you did what you had to.

She married Richard Smith at Pierre on August 13, 1948. He worked for several farms and ranches in the Pierre area and was trained as a carpenter. He worked on the Oahe Dam and then moved to Tekoa, WA, where he worked as a carpenter, electrician, plumber. Pat worked with him. She painted the houses and did the finish work.

Pat trained as a security guard at an ammunition depot. She also earned her GED at Hawthorne, NV. They moved to Hoover where Pat helped at the Store and lambed for several ranches.

Pat was well read and never stopped learning. She was very active and worked hard. The bad things in life were just part of life. She was an amazingly balanced woman considering all that happened during her life.

Survivors include her sons, Randall Smith, Sioux Falls, and Clarence Smith, Reno, NV; daughters, Shirley (Tom) Franklin, Salem, OR, and Rita Harvey, Palm Springs, CA; 11 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; a great-great-grandchild; brother, Kenneth Badger, Pierre; and sisters, Ramona Hurm, Sturgis, Leona McFarland, Hoover, Hope Manley, Mount Ida, AR, Judy Crull, Pringle, Margie Bandy, Valdez, AK, and Lila Casper, New Underwood.

She was preceded in death by her husband; son, Dale; and four brothers Herbert, Clyle, Sterling and Richard.

Memorial services will be at 10 a.m. Friday, June 22, at the Store in Hoover with Pastor Harold Delbridge officiating.

A memorial has been established to the Hoover Cemetery.