Charlie "Smitty" Smith, Jr., 101, died on Monday, May 7, 2018 at Peaceful Pines Assisted Living Memory Care.

He was born on March 28, 1917, in Jackson, Mississippi, to Charlie, Sr, and Lucy (Williams) Smith.

He served in the US Army Force from 1943 to 1945 during WWII and was stationed in Sioux Falls, South Dakota as a mess hall cook.  After his discharge, he decided to stay in Sioux Falls.  He then convinced Dorothy Jackson from Chicago to join him there.  They were married in Sioux Falls in 1943.

Due to the limited schooling available, Charlie only attained a grade school education.  Finding a job other than cooking proved difficult.  That's when Charlie met a Jewish money broker in Sioux Falls.  He helped Charlie start his window washing business, and he eventually turned that business into a successful janitorial business that ran for over 68 years.  He worked daily until the age of 96.  Charlie loved his work and talking optimistically to all levels of people. He was always happy and never discouraged.

Survivors include a son, Kenny Smith, of Rapid City; a daughter, Connie Holman, of Denver, CO; his grandchildren, Valerie Privett, Iowa, Kari Privett, Texas and James Privett, Iowa.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy in 2008 and his daughter, Tami Wilson.


Visitation will begin at 7 pm, with an 8 pm service, on Thursday, May 10 at Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home.  Burial will be at 9:30 am on Friday, May 11, at the Black Hills National Cemetery, with full military honors rendered by the Rushmore VFW Post 1273 and the South Dakota Army National Guard.