Mary Lee Smith (Mari Lee), 88 passed away on April 7, 2026 at Avantara St. Cloud Nursing Facility.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 09:30am on Monday, April 13, 2026 at St. Therese the Little Flower Catholic Church in Rapid City, SD. Visitation will be one hour before the service. Burial will be at the Mountain View Cemetery in Keystone, SD.

Mary Lee Smith (nee Cordes) was born on May 8, 1937, in Keystone, South Dakota to Amelia “Babe” (Zwetzig) and Vincent Cordes. During her first year, the family lived in the cabin on their mining claim in Foster Gulch. After her first eight grades in Keystone, she attended and graduated from Cathedral High School in Rapid City. Following graduation, she attended secretarial school in Colorado. She was united in marriage with George Alexander in Keystone. After George’s untimely passing, she later married Charles Smith.

She worked as a secretary and delivered bulk mail. After Charles' retirement from federal employment, they delivered phone books throughout Rapid City until his passing.

Mary Lee enjoyed treasure hunting in all the swap shops in Rapid City. She thoroughly researched her family’s genealogy and then enjoyed tracing through the succeeding generations to find the fifth and sixth cousins.

Mary Lee was preceded in death by her parents; her first husband, George Alexander; her second husband, Charles Smith; her sister, CariDee Foley; her brothers-in-law, John Foley and Dean Giannonatti. 

She is survived by her brother, Bernard Cordes of Keystone; her sister, LaVeta Giannonatti; of Rapid City, and nieces and nephews.