Alice Davis Smith

Alice Davis Smith was born Feb. 25, 1917, in Hill City, S.D., to John O. Davis and Dora Morehouse Davis. She attended various schools in South Dakota and graduated from Fargo, N.D. High School and North Dakota State College with a major in biology and a minor in history, later adding a major in art. She played baritone horn in the college band, appeared in a water ballet while in college and illustrated the text of “North Dakota Plants,” by O. A. Stevens.
In 1941, she married Dwaine (Casey) Smith in Moorhead, Minn., and they had five children, including sons Richard of Black Hawk, S.D., Ronald of Hill City, Brian of St. Cloud, Minn., Dee of Silver City, N.M., and a daughter, Doreen  Guthrie, of Fallbrook, Calif. She also had five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
For over 20 years, Alice taught biology and art in Pierre, S.D., where she was also president of the Pierre Education Association. She belonged to AAUW, the Canvas Backs Art Club and Toastmistresses. In 1975, she returned to Hill City and cared for her mother until her death in 1985.
In Hill City, Alice organized the local Toastmistress Club, Hill City Arts Council and Evergreen Garden Club.  She held memberships in Western Women in the Arts (a founder), Black Hills Writers’ Group, Hill City Economic Development, Friends of the Library (trustee for many years), South Dakota State Poetry Society (board of directors) and was a leader in H-CAMP, a fundraising group. She served on the Hill City Council for 11 years, was president of the Hill City Park Board and with Jane Hoyt Lamb was a founder and supporter of Artforms, Hill City’s artist co-op. A story about  Alice and her many accomplishments appears on page one of this issue.
Another survivor includes a sister, Veva Belmont, Chelan, Wash.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Casey, in 1991; son, Ronald, in 2003; her parents; and brothers, Copeland G. Davis and Howard E. Davis.
A memorial celebration of Alice’s life will take place on Saturday, May 1, from 2-5 p.m. at the Golden Spike Best Western Inn, Hill City, with a wine and cheese party as she requested. A service will be read by the Unitarian – Universalist Fellowship, Rapid City.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Hill City Area Memorial Park (H-CAMP).