Martha C. Smith

Martha Christine Smith, 89, passed away in her sleep on Tuesday, July 13, 2011 at Dorsett Healthcare Center in Spearfish. She was born on October 24, 1921 to Ole Johan and Johanna Christine (Monger) Fjellanger at home on the family farm near Sherman, SD. She attended rural school in Minnehaha County and graduated from Sherman High School in 1939. She then went to nurses training at St. Mary’s Hospital in Pierre and graduated 3 years later. After nurses training she went home for a short time and then went to work at Pipestone County Hospital in Pipestone, MN. On February 1, 1946 she married Kenneth D. Smith. After their marriage they made numerous moves including Lake Wilson, MN where she and Kenny owned and operated a small restaurant while she continued nursing; Pipestone, MN; southern California; Cherokee IA and finally settling in Rapid City in 1959. Martha served as the night supervisor at St. John’s McNamara Hospital and Rapid City Regional Hospital for 26 years retiring in 1987. She was a member of Faith Lutheran Church and was a member of the Altar Guild and Women’s Circle. She is survived by her husband of 65 years, Kenneth Smith, Spearfish; her only daughter, Mary Ellen Stampe (Scott), Spearfish; 2 grandchildren, Matthew LoCoco and Laura LoCoco, both of Rapid City; her brother and sisters children, Sarah, John, Jane, Marilyn, Kristy, Lori and Russell and one sister-in-law, Peggy Smith. She is preceded in death by her parents Ole and Johanna Fjellanger; brother Orvin and sister Minnie Miller.