Lella Lee Smith

Lella Lee Smith, 94, of Rapid City, South Dakota, and formerly of Belle Fourche, South Dakota, died October 7, 2024 at the Good Samaritan St. Martin Village in Rapid City.

Lella was born September 29, 1930 in Belle Fourche to Louis and Etta (Richardson) Shelden. She spent her entire childhood growing up on a ranch near Hulett, Wyoming, with her parents, two sisters and two brothers.

She taught rural schools for two years in Wyoming before moving to Belle Fourche in 1960. Lella married Richard J. Smith on October 3, 1963 in Belle Fourche and became a homemaker and dedicated her life to raising her family.

She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Belle Fourche where she played the piano for over 30 years at the church. She loved her church. In 2007 she moved to Rapid City, where she has since lived.

Lella enjoyed playing the piano, sewing, painting, baking, gardening, motorcycling with her husband and spending time with her family. She loved her family.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Louis and Etta Shelden; her husband, Richard Smith; her sisters, Jean Dabney and Barbara Storm; brothers, Griffin Shelden and Dan Shelden.

She is survived by her children, Tom (Tonya) Stokes of Anchorage, Alaska, Sandy (Paul) Pazen of Ft. Collins, Colorado, Jackie, (Al) Spreizer of Rapid City and Judy (Bob) Domalewski of Rapid City; grandchildren, Brad Stokes, Chris Fryda, Siera Morado, Becky Stokes, Dan Stokes, Jay Stokes, Ben Anderson and Aaron Anderson; and numerous great grandchildren.

Funeral services were held Monday, October 14 at the First Baptist Church in Belle Fourche with Pastor Tim Smith officiating. Interment was Tuesday, October 15 at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis.

The family suggests memorial donations to the First Baptist Church in Belle Fourche.

The funeral can be viewed on Lella 's obituary page at klinefunreralchapel.com

An online guest book is available at klinefuneralchapel.com.