Rev. Keith L. Smith

Rev. Keith L. Smith, age 81, of Revillo, SD, passed away on Sunday, November 13, 2022, at Avantara – Milbank Nursing Home.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, November 17, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. at Zoar Lutheran Church in Revillo. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, November 16, 2022, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Mundwiler Funeral Home in Milbank and will continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Thursday. Rev. Hans Sacrison will officiate the service and interment will take place at Groton Cemetery in Groton, SD.

The service will be livestreamed and recorded and will be viewable on Keith’s obituary page at www.mundwilerfuneralhome.net.

Keith LeRoy Smith was born on July 13, 1941, in Britton, SD, to Orval and Bernice (Melland) Smith. He grew up in Groton and attended school, graduating with the Class of 1958. He attended college at South Dakota State University in Brookings, SD, graduating with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Political Science in 1962.

Following college, Keith accepted a full-time position at the Carthage College library in Kenosha, Wisconsin. In later years, he volunteered at a Lutheran retreat in Washington State, worked at his parents’ business in Watertown, SD, spent a year working at a church in Canada and spent 2 years as a chaplain in Lubbock, Texas.  In his 40’s, Keith attended 2 seminaries and graduated with a Masters in Divinity from the Wartburg Theological Seminary and was ordained.  He served as a Pastor in Kadoka, SD before moving to Revillo, SD, where he was the pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Revillo, SD, and Zoar Lutheran Church in rural Revillo for nearly 25 years.

Keith lived in many places and did many things in his life bringing him from the small town of Groton, SD to Brookings, SD, to St. Paul, MN, to Kenosha, WI, to Dubuque, IA, to Lake Chelan, WA, to Kenora, Ontario, to Lubbock, TX, to Kadoka, SD, to Revillo, SD, and finally to Milbank, SD.

Keith supported many charities; most notably the Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch.  In his leisure time, he enjoyed mountain hiking, reading, studying theology, and exploring national and state parks.

Keith is survived by his brother, Curtis and “Cookie” Smith of Littleton, CO; sister, Cheryl Smith of Lubbock, TX; numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews; Doug and Carol Spany and family of Wauzeka, WI; along with many friends and parishioners.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Orval and Bernice Smith; sister, Diane Sallee; and brother, John Luther Smith.

Mundwiler Funeral Home of Milbank is in charge of the arrangements. To leave a condolence, please visit www.mundwilerfuneralhome.net.