Carol Jean Smith | 1936 - 2024
Obituaries-Pierre / Posted Feb 5, 2024 | 4:07 PM / 252 views
PIERRE, SD – Carol Jean Smith, passed away peacefully on January 26, 2024, at the age of 87. Her final days were spent surrounded by the love and care of family and friends at Edgewood Assisted Living in Pierre, South Dakota.
A memorial service to celebrate Carol Jean Smith’s life will be held at 3:00 pm on Friday, February 2, 2024, at Isburg Funeral Chapel in Pierre. A graveside service will be held at the Spring Lake Covenant Cemetery near Oldham, SD, in the spring.
Born on June 27, 1936, in Brookings, South Dakota, Carol was the beloved daughter of Elmer and Ruth (Rosenstock) Sanderson. She was raised in Brookings, graduating from Brookings High School.
She met the love of her life, Gerald “Jerry” Smith, while attending South Dakota State University, and they were married on August 17, 1957, in Brookings. Together, they embarked on a journey that saw them build their lives in various cities, including Scotland, SD from 1957-1961, Alton, IA from 1961-1964, and eventually settling in Rochester, MN in 1964. While raising their family, Carol was also the best administrative assistant ever! She demonstrated her excellence in organizational skills while working for the Rochester School District and the Architectural Design Group.
Carol enjoyed singing in the Methodist church choir. She was an avid sports fan and enjoyed reading, movies, musicals, and any event that involved her beloved grandchildren.
In retirement, Carol and Jerry found a second home in Scottsdale, Arizona, where they enjoyed the warmth of the sun during the winter months.
Grateful for having shared in Carol’s life are her children, Laurie (Bob) Gill of Pierre, SD, and Dr. Daniel (Mindy) Smith of Scottsdale, AZ. She was a proud grandmother of five grandchildren- Misty (Nate) Pile of Phoenix, AZ; Austin (Lindsey) Schneider of Eagan, MN; Matt (Kacy) Gill of Pierre, SD; Polly (Nikki) Gill of Tea, SD; and Dani (Cory) Smith of Scottsdale, AZ- and seven great-grandchildren. Carol is also survived by her sisters, Marilyn (Dale) Hagen and Joan Hasslen.
Carol was preceded in death by her parents and her beloved husband of 49 years, Jerry.
