Gregory Stanley Smeenk, age 70, took his last breath on this side of heaven on Easter, April 9th, 2023. He was surrounded by his family. He was born February 23rd, 1953, in Rapid City, SD as the youngest of 2 children. He grew up as the 3rd generation on the family ranch.

He attended Newell High School, was active in football, bull riding and met his wife Sherry in high school. At the University of South Dakota, he earned a double major Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Sociology with an emphasis in Criminal Justice and was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity where he earned the title of "The Governor." He worked as a police officer in Vermillion and Rapid City after college.

From 1977 until 2005 his family owned and operated a ranch in northern Butte County, approximately 8,000 acres in size, a livestock operation consisting of cattle, sheep, and buffalo. The total number of cattle was about 400 head, sheep numbers ranged from 500 to 1,200 head, and the buffalo cow herd was 300 head. He also rented pasture and ran beef cows and sheep with neighbors on a share basis.

He became a licensed private pilot for a single engine aircraft in 1974. He flew his plane to check livestock daily with his most memorable flights being a snake falling into his lap from the ceiling when he was in the air and flying a loop with his uncle Mac.

For 15 years, he operated a hunting enterprise on his ranch taking in deer and buffalo hunters. Greg shot a world record buffalo on his ranch in 2004 which was recorded in Safari Club International with a total scoring of 79 2/8".

He was in many movies, Ford commercials, magazines and books with his most memorable movie roles in "Thunderheart" with Val Kilmer, "Roads," "Lakota Woman," and supplying horses for the movie "Dances With Wolves."

He got his real estate license in 2004 and just 2 years later, became a broker and started his own real estate company, Dakota Properties of Belle Fourche. For the year 2008, he was the Top Producer for the Northern Black Hills Association of Realtors out of 153 realtors and was recognized by the South Dakota State Legislature.

He had a commercial real estate business in the Black Hills of South Dakota and Oklahoma. In 1987 he purchased his first apartment building, a 15-unit residential complex. Since that time, he added more apartment units and storage rental buildings, all of which he was the general contractor for. His most recent business venture was building a wedding venue, The Barn Out West.

He was a member of the Northern Black Hills Association of Realtors, President of the Dakota Territory Buffalo Association, Director of the South Dakota Sheep Growers, Black Hills Round Up Club and Western South Dakota Buckaroos.

We could fill the Grand Canyon with stories about Greg. To know him was to love him. He was larger than life and impacted more people than he probably knows. He lived by the cowboy code and always said "Do what you say and say what you do." He built ranches, buildings and businesses, but he took the most pride in building his family and friendships. He was a leader, prankster, full of life and energy, always greeting people with a smile and if you were around him long enough, a deep laugh. He was an inspiration and will continue to be.

Loving survivors include his wife of 45 years, Sherry Smeenk; children, Trisha Shields (Dustin), Jenna Smeenk, Jed Smeenk; grandchild, Avery Shields; brother, Randy Smeenk (Marnie) and numerous nephews, cousins and other family.

He is preceded in death by his parents: Kathleen and Stanley Smeenk

Visitation will be, Friday April 14th from 5: 00 – 7:00 p.m., at First Presbyterian Church in Sturgis.

Funeral services will be Saturday, April 15, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. at the Belle Fourche Rec Center. Burial will take place Sunday, April 16 ^th at 10:00 a.m. at the Pine Slope Cemetery, Belle Fourche, SD.

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