Darrell L. Smith

Darrell L. Smith, 82, of the Grand Island Veterans Home, died Saturday, Nov. 6, 2010, at St. Francis Medical Center in Grand Island. Private family graveside services will be held Wednesday in the Douglas Grove Cemetery, near Comstock. Pastor Don Schauda will officiate. Military honors will be conducted by Rogers C. West American Legion Post No. 220 of Comstock. There will be no public visitation. Peters Funeral Home of Loup City is in charge of arrangements. Mr. Smith was born on Sept. 12, 1928, at Flippin, Arkansas, the son of Lawrence and Ruth (Dudley) Smith. He was united in marriage to Ruth L. Jones on Nov. 23, 1946, at Salem, Illinois. He is survived by his wife, Ruth of Ansley; five sons and four daughters-in-law, Dan and Gloria Smith of Merna, Mike Smith of Elm Creek, Randall and Carrie Smith of Santa Rosa, CA, Mark and Ruth Smith of Dayton, Iowa, and Vince and Sherry Smith of Shelton, Wash.; two sisters, Lovella Slangal of Garland and Donna Johnson of Centralia, IL; 16 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren. As a young child, Darrell moved to Salem, IL with his family, where he attended rural schools. He served his country in the United States Army during World War II. He and Ruth lived and farmed near Iuka, IL until moving to Nebraska in March 1966. The couple farmed mostly around Custer County, having lived in the Broken Bow, Sargent and Comstock communities. They retired in 1990 and once again lived in various communities in the area. Darrell moved to the Grand Island Veterans Home in August 2009. He took pride in keeping a nice lawn and enjoyed gardening, woodworking and small engine repairs. He was preceded in death by his parents; one son, Dennis Smith; a daughter-in-law, Barbara Smith; a granddaughter, Delania Smith; a brother, Dwayne Smith; and a sister, Jean Gray. Memorials are suggested to the family’s choice.