Beverly B. Smith

Beverly Battey Smith, age 90, of Dakota Dunes, South Dakota, formerly of Homer, NE, South Sioux City and Sioux City, passed away on March 25, 2018, at Unity Point (St. Lukes) hospital in Sioux City, Iowa after suffering a sudden illness. Her immediate family members were with her during the final days here on earth.

Beverly was born to Walker and Thelma (Redmond) Battey of Lincoln, Nebraska, on January 7, 1928, and had a younger brother, Robert Battey, who currently resides in Denver, Colorado. Beverly was wed to Rodney Ream Smith of South Sioux City, Nebraska, following Rodney’s WWII military service in the United States Navy.  Rodney and Beverly had three children, Stephen Kent Smith (presently deceased), and Leland Rex Smith and Bruce Malcolm Smith.  The Smith Family lived in South Sioux City, Nebraska, until the children were adults, then moved to Homer, Nebraska, in 1976 where they built a home on top of the Homer Hills known as the “House on the Hill.”  Rodney and Beverly were avid Nebraska football fans and loved traveling to Nebraska bowl games throughout the years.  After Rodney passed away in 1998, Beverly sold the House on the Hill and moved to Sioux City, Iowa, where she lived in a north side home for the following 17 years and then at Sunnybrook Assisted Living at Dakota Dunes, South Dakota until the time of her death on March 25, 2018.

Beverly is survived by her two sons, Leland and Bruce; eight grandsons, Gregory, Alexander, Eric, Neil, Mac, Bennett, Taylor and Tristin; one great grandson, Harrison; two daughters-in-law, Becky and Lisa; and numerous nieces and nephews originally from Rockford, Illinois and Denver, Colorado.

Beverly was active in her community throughout the years as she belonged to the PEO Sisterhood Chapter of South Sioux City, Nebraska, and helped create the first Hospice program in Sioux City, Iowa. Beverly helped organize and host the National Governors’ Conference held in South Sioux City in the 1960s and helped established the first AFS affiliated high school foreign exchange program in her community.  Later in life, Beverly obtained a bachelor of arts degree from Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa, and was an avid painter and canvass artist.  She especially enjoyed fishing trips with Rodney throughout the years, finally catching and mounting the “Big One” reeled in from the waters of Lake Nemeiben in Saskatchewon, Canada, many years ago.

A special thank you to the wonderful and caring fifth floor nursing staff and Hospice of Siouxland at St. Lukes hospital in Sioux City, Iowa, where Beverly spent her final days while waiting to pass. The Smith Family is forever grateful to everyone involved in her care.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Hospice of Siouxland in Beverly’s memory. Graveside internment will be at the Omaha Valley Cemetery near Homer, Nebraska, next to her beloved husband, Rodney.  May Beverly’s spirit and soul rest in peace forever.