Richard "Dick" B. Smith

Richard “Dick” B. Smith, 85, of Dakota City, passed away Tuesday, May 31, 2022.  Funeral services will be 11:00 A.M. Friday, June 10, 2022 at Mohr & Becker-Hunt Funeral Home in South Sioux City.  Visitation will be Thursday, June 9, 2022 from 5:00 to 7:00 P.M. with a prayer service at 7:00 P.M. at the funeral home.  Burial will be at St. Michael Cemetery in South Sioux City. 

Dick was born the son of Alfred and Mildred (Stull) Smith on March 11, 1937 in Sioux City, Iowa.  He attended school in South Sioux City and Waterbury.  Dick married Karon Sitzman on March 26, 1960.  They made their home in South Sioux City and raised their three children.  Karon passed away in 1993.  He later married Beatrice “Bea” Swanson on November 1, 1995.  They made their home in Dakota City.  Bea passed away in 2013.  Dick always commented that he had been particularly blessed with “TWO Loves of my Life” in Karon and Bea.

Dick spent his career in sales, beginning with selling Dial-O-Matic slicers, traveling to state and county fairs with his handwriting machine and finally settling down to raise his family while selling Prudential Life Insurance for 35 years.  Because of his high sales performance, Dick was awarded company trips to San Francisco, Las Vegas and Orlando, which he and Karon enjoyed very much.  After his retirement, Dick enjoyed a beautiful Alaskan cruise with his second wife, Bea.

In addition to traveling for his career, Dick spent many summers camping and fishing in Minnesota with his family and close friends, the Blanchard’s; attending annual 4^th of July celebrations at the Stewart farm in Waterbury; and just relaxing and grilling on his patio with family and friends.  Dick and Karon hosted annual New Year’s Eve parties at “Richard’s Pub” in their home and the coffee pot was always on when family and friends stopped to visit.  His hobbies included golfing, auto restoration and renovating properties for his rental business. As a life-long handyman, Dick finally built his own house in Dakota City, with the help of his son, Bradley and brother, Larry.  Dick and Bea created many happy memories in that home until their passings.

Dick bravely served his country in the United States Army for 3 years.  He was a Sharpshooter and Mechanic, Private E-2, stationed in Germany for 22 months. Dick fondly remembers the glorious view of the Statue of Liberty when returning home after his Honorable Discharge.

Dick is survived by his children, Stacey (Scott) Winter of Dakota City; Bradley Smith of Dakota Dunes and Kelley (Russell) Smith-Larson of Humboldt; siblings, Millie (Ken) Kruse of Des Moines, Mollie (Ron) Meier of Minneapolis, Betty Smith of South Sioux City, Ginger Vomacka of Akron, Ohio, Joe (Lillie) Smith of Allen and Susie Hickman of South Sioux City; grandchildren, Victoria (Steven) Ricke, Michael Akins, Bryan Larson, Samantha Larson, Tara Larson, and Daniel Cota; great-grandchildren, Memphis Akins and Charlotte and Theodore Ricke; brother-in-law, Gerald Stewart of Waterbury; and his faithful canine companion, Lily.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wives, Karon and Beatrice; siblings, Tom, Larry, and John Smith and Laurabel Stewart; and special friend, Dorothy Lux.