Headquarters 2nd Battalion, 511th PIR, Mortars

04/23/23 - 01/26/15 - gravesite

Citations: Parachutist Badge, Combat Infantryman Badge, Occupation Medal (Japan)

Locations: Honshu, Japan

OBITUARY:

Duane Smith of Sioux Falls died Monday morning after a brief illness. He was 91.

Duane Forrest Smith was born April 4, 1923 in Naples, South Dakota, the youngest of five brothers and two sisters. He spent his first years growing up on a farm outside of Watertown before moving to town. Duane loved to hunt and fish. He was duck hunting on Nov. 11, 1940 when a surprise storm known as the Armistice Day Blizzard struck the Upper Midwest, killing dozens of hunters. Duane graduated from Watertown High School in 1943, where he played football, basketball and ran track.

He enlisted in the U.S. Army in January 1943, where he volunteered for parachute school. Duane was eventually assigned to the 11th Airborne Division. During World War II, Duane's unit participated in the liberation of the Philippines, where he saw action at Leyte, Luzon, and the liberation of Manila. The action included a combat jump behind enemy lines, and his unit participated in the Los Banos raid to free more than 2,100 allied civilians held in a Japanese internment camp. Gen. Douglas MacArthur assigned the 11th Airborne Division to lead the occupation of Japan after the Japanese surrender, and Duane participated in the occupation.

He left the Army in January, 1946. He married Winnie L. MacKinnon on Aug. 16, 1947. Duane's best friend with whom he enlisted in the Army, Lee Stroup, introduced Duane to Winnie. The two moved to Utah while Duane attended Utah State University. Duane received his commission with the Utah National Guard. In January 1951, his unit, the 204th Field Artillery Battalion, was deployed to Korea for a 13-month tour during the Korean War.

Upon his return, Duane, Winnie and their daughter, Connie, moved to Sioux Falls. Duane worked as an insurance claims adjuster with Mutual of Omaha, Employee Services and Dakota Care. Duane and Winnie had two more children, Kevon and Kellie. He also continued to serve in the South Dakota National Guard, where he was activated for the Berlin Crisis in 1961. He retired from the National Guard in 1983.

Duane was a loving father and husband who enjoyed spending time with his children. Every Saturday he took his kids to the Elks Club for lunch. He coached softball and liked to make people laugh. He was a rabid Utah State fan and he loved the New York Yankees. He was not, however, a fan of Elvis Presley due to Presley's suggestive hip swiveling. Duane shared his love of hunting and fishing with his children, sons-in-law, grandchildren and great grandchildren. His prized shotgun was a Browning A5, which his father bought for him when he returned from World War II. Duane had an encyclopedic knowledge of eastern South Dakota's best walleye spots. Besides hunting and fishing, he enjoyed teaching pitch to his grandchildren and great grandchildren, who still play today.

Duane was a very generous man, who was always there for his family, country, neighbors, and friends. He took pride in his grandchildren and legacy. He held lasting friendships with those who knew him over the course of 91 years. He will be remembered and missed by all.

Duane appreciated the care he received from the staff at Sanford Health during his final days. He is survived by Winnie, daughters Connie (Phil) Olsen of Bozeman, Mont. and Kellie (Matt) Lombardi, Littleton, Colo., a daughter-in-law, Patti Smith, as well as six grandchildren, Tracey Olsen Theofiledes, Brook Olsen Roush, Loren Healy, Kyle Healy, Lauren Lombardi and Jackie Lombardi; and eight great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his son, Kevon, his parents Francis and Laura and his five brothers and two sisters.

A service to celebrate his life will be held at First Baptist Church in Sioux Falls at 2 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 31. A burial with full military honors will take place at a later date at Fort Meade National Cemetery in Sturgis. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to Duck's Unlimited or the McCrossan Boys Ranch through any Wells Fargo location.


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