Duane was born to Urby and Mary (Foree) Smith on June 10, 1942, in Long Beach, CA while his father worked at the Naval Shipyard during the war. After the war, they returned to Grand Junction, CO, eventually moving to Hot Springs when he was in the 6th grade. He attended public schools in Grand Junction and Hot Springs before completing a BA in chemistry at Union College in Lincoln, NE, and graduating from Loma Linda University as a medical doctor specializing in internal medicine. In 1964 he married Evelyn Prunty and to this union was born 3 sons. During Vietnam he served in the Navy at the Marine Core Air Station in Yuma, AZ. In his career as an internal medicine and family doctor he practiced in Nicaragua, Colorado, Oklahoma, Kansas and Palau. Duane enjoyed flying the Piper Comanche airplane that he co-owned with a friend, traveling with his family, snow skiing and water skiing.

Duane died May 14, 2018, in Hot Springs, SD.

Remaining to honor his life are his sons, Brad (Courtney) and grandchildren Anna and Connor of Naples, FL; Jeff (Tammy) of Brighton, CO; and Tim of Brighton, CO.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife, Evie.

Committal services will be 10:30 a.m. on Monday, June 4, 2018 at the Black Hills National Cemetery with military honors.

He is being laid to rest at Black Hills National Cemetery in a private service. The family wishes to express their heartfelt gratitude for the excellent care he received from the staff at the Michael J. Fitzmaurice Veterans Home over the last 4 years.