Nancy B. Smith

Nancy B. Smith, age 85 of Tabor, SD died peacefully Tuesday, September 9, 2025 at Avera Sister James Care Center, Yankton, SD. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 am Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Tabor with Rev. John Rutten officiating. Visitations will be from 5:00-7:00 pm Tuesday September 16, 2025 at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Tabor with a 7:00 pm wake service and resume one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Cemetery in Tabor. Online condolences may be sent at www.okfhc.com. Opsahl-Kostel Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Nancy was born on February 10, 1940, in Little Rock, AR. She lived there until she met her beloved husband Daniel G. Smith, and they moved to a lovely home on Puget Sound in Seattle, WA. From there, Nancy and Dan moved to Northport, WA then to Tabor where Nancy lived for more than 20 years.

She loved their Tabor/Yankton community and was active in Saint Winceslaus Catholic Church in Tabor.

Nancy’s grandfather, Colonel Thomas Barton (known as The Colonel) of El Dorado, AR was a philanthropist and entrepreneurial oil “wild-catter” in the early 1900’s, whose company ultimately became Lion Oil.

Nancy was kind to everyone she met, especially her four-legged friends. She fed huge families of racoons, wild turkeys, deer and other birds every day for most of her adult life. As a docent at the Little Rock Zoo, she famously “adopted” an orphaned orangutan, who thought her hair color made them family.

Her sense of humor guided her, as she loved being silly, playing cards and telling funny stories. But she was also a very serious life mentor to many in South Dakota, which was extremely important and fulfilling to her.

Nancy is survived by her husband of 30 years, Dan Smith, her daughter Karen Manroe, her son Scott Thompson, and two granddaughters, Nancy Manroe and Frances Manroe Bunt.

Special thanks to the staff of Majestic Bluffs, whose care for Nancy was loving and truly inspirational.