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In memory of

Lola Smith

of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, formerly of Kadoka, South Dakota, died on Saturday, July 3, 2004 at the Kadoka Nursing Home in Kadoka at the age of 85

Lola M. Smith was born January 24, 1919, in Kadoka, South Dakota, the daughter of Al and Clara (Rooks) Smith. She grew up on a ranch east of Longvalley in the Wanamaker area. She received her elementary education in that area prior to graduating from St. Mary’s High School in Springfield, South Dakota. She received her nurses training at St. Mary’s School of Nursing in 1939. She worked as a Registered Nurse in various hospitals throughout the United States. In 1954, she became an anesthetist from Sacred Heart School of Anesthesiology in Yankton. She the worked for twenty-five years for McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, prior to retiring in 1984. After retirement, she continued to make her home in Sioux Falls.

Lola was a member of the Calvary Episcopal Cathedral of Sioux Falls and the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists.

Grateful for having shared her life are three nephews Alvin Goodman of Longvalley, Daniel Smith of Alvarado, Texas, and Wayne Smith of Texas City, Texas; one niece Virginia Coller and her husband Delbert of Longvalley; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Lola was preceded in death by her parents; one brother Charles Smith; one Sister Thelma Pourier; and one nephew Richard Goodman.

Graveside services were 1:00 p.m. Thursday, July 8, at the Kadoka Cemetery, with Pastor Ann Schlossnagle officiating.

GRAVESIDE SERVICES
Thursday, July 8, 2004 1:00 p.m.
Kadoka Cemetery
Kadoka, South Dakota

CLERGY
Pastor Ann Schlossnagle

HONORARY PALLBEARERS
All Relatives and Friends in Attendance

INTERMENT
Kadoka Cemetery
Kadoka, South Dakota

GRAVESIDE SERVICES
Thursday, July 8, 2004 1:00 p.m.
Kadoka Cemetery
Kadoka, South Dakota

  • Lola was one of my instructors in anesthesia school from 1976-1978. I also had the pleasure of working with her from 78 to 80 as a fellow staff member at McKennan Hospital. Lola was always helping out students by sneaking money into their pockets and many times would buy me lunch. She was always so sneaky about it because she wanted to help out but didn't want any credit or thanks for it. Occasionally she would get caught in her acts of random kindness and would have to fess up to being the secret donor. Getting caught, of course ruined the tough image she like to project. She was an amazing woman and I loved to hear her stories about when she and Dr. Gregg used to drive out to the reservation and she would do the anesthesia for the indian children. She once came back from vacation with her arm in a cast, and I was her student that day. I was having trouble intubating a patient and Lola picked up the scope with the arm that was in a cast and not only intubated the patient, but made it look easy. She was a great teacher and I will always be thankful for her shared wisdom and many acts of kindness! ~ LuAnn Welty 6572 Peninsula Point, Wentworth, SD (7/3/2004)
  • Lola was an instructor when I was in anesthesia school 1977-1979. She taught me stay calm and what was most important which is caring for the patient. I don't know how the tradition started but we found out she liked birthday cake on Halloween so we would make her a cake and take it to her on Halloween and my kids always came home with their pocket full all the good kind of candy. I'll miss her and think of her often as I have a big old Caddy like she had many years ago and loved to drive to Pierre. Grant Palm ~ Grant Palm 1750 Carrie Nye Trail, Bozeman, MT (7/3/2004)
  • I want to express my sympathy on the death of Lola. She was a fine person and a good nurse anesthetist. I first met Lola in the summer of 1959 when I worked as an orderly in surgery at McKennan Hospital. When I returned to McKennan as a surgeon, I again had the opportunity to work with her many times. My father, John McGreevy, and my uncle, Ed McGreevy, were also surgeons at McKennan Hospital. They were good friends of Lola's and thought very highly of her. ~ Dr. Pat McGreevy Sioux Falls, SD (7/3/2004)
  • I was an anesthesia student under Lola's leadership from 1973-1975 at McKennan Hospital.I valued her help and friendship. She was a great lady. ~ Mary Meier Sioux Falls, SD (7/3/2004)
  • Lola was an instructor when I was in anesthesia school. Her gruff exterior covered up for her heart of gold. More than once I would find a $20 bill tucked into my lab coat when I was going to lunch. Lola would just smile and say "I figured you could use a good lunch". I ate for a couple of weeks on that! She also made sure that my kids always had tickets for the Shrine Circus when it came to town. The tickets would "magically" appear on my anesthesia cart when I was working with Lola. She was a wonderful lady and I will miss her. ~ Dan Vigness, CRNA Sioux Falls, SD (7/3/2004)