Donna Kaye Smith of Sheridan passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, on Wed., May 8, 2019. She is now at home with her Savior and family who passed on before her. Donna was born on February 4, 1938 in Ekalaka, Mt to Ernest and Beulah Sjoblom. Donna’s family had a farm about 10 miles out of town, so she had to board with families in Ekalaka during her school years. She was a very outgoing young lady throughout her school years, playing numerous instruments in the school band and serving as a cheerleader for the Carter County Bulldogs. She graduated from high school in 1956. In March 1957 she married the love of her life, Harold Allen Smith in Miles City, MT. They celebrated their 60th anniversary two months before Harold passed away in 2017.
Donna and Harold had two children (Cerise and Everett) while in Montana. After Harold graduated from Montana State College Bozeman in 1961, the family moved to the San Francisco Bay area. There they had two more children (Shauna and Kelan). Donna was a dedicated wife and mother who served on the PTO of her children’s schools and served as a Girl Scout Leader for her daughter. She also served as a “Pink Lady” volunteer at Kaiser Hospital in Walnut Creek for many years and taught Children’s Church at Fair Oaks Baptist Church in Concord, CA. She also taught piano lessons there for about 10 years and graduated from Diablo Valley College with an Associate of Arts Degree.
The family moved to Sheridan, WY in 1980 and purchased the Sheridan Dynamometer in 1981. Donna was an active member of First Baptist church, and later Grace Baptist church where she sang, taught Sunday School, VBS, and taught Art and Music. The Smiths ran the Sheridan Dynamometer until 1989 when they moved to Buffalo, WY. While there Donna served on the Board of the Wyoming Girl Scout Council. She also was very active in Christian Women’s Club and in her church, Buffalo Wesleyan. She taught piano there for about 20 years. Donna was an avid gardener. Her beautiful yard was awarded many times by the Buffalo Garden club. In 2015 Donna and Harold moved back to Sheridan to be closer to family who could help them in their aging years. She spent her last years under the care of many sweet providers at Sheridan Manor who treated her like she was their own mother.
Donna was preceded in death by her husband Harold Allen in 2017. She is survived by her children Cerise (Roy)Welter Cherry of Midland, TX, Everett Smith and Shauna (Gary) Bowers of Sheridan, and Kelan Smith of Lakewood, CO. She also is survived by her grandchildren Janine Welter Deckard (TX), Danielle Bowers (Sheridan), Kristi (Eric) Bowers Holifield, Nena (Bryant) Smith Bevilaqua (Gillette), Dani Jo (Steve) Smith Dygon (FL), Holly (Andrew) Bowers Fauth (Sheridan), Timmy (Brittany) Smith, Paul Bowers and Tyler Smith (Sheridan). In addition to these she is survived by her 13 precious great grandchildren.