Raymond C Smith was born 15 Nov 1891 at Riverton, Iowa, to Alum B Smith and Fan (Liggett) Smith.

Ray came with his family by immigrant train to Potter County, South Dakota in 1910 and became a farmer at Gorman, SD, near Gettysburg. He was also a mechanic specializing in the Hart-Parr Engine and he had spent time in that field in Canada.

Siblings: Devere, Claude, Dorothy Smith Cronin, twins Isaak and Coleman, & John**. **Devere, Claude, and Ray all served in the military during WWI. Devere died of Spanish flu while in the service.

Married: Elda M Rausch on 24 Sep 1919

Children: Marvin, Eldon, Duane, Gerald, Iris, and Doris (still living in 2020)

Ray was a member of the Methodist church and the Masonic Orders. He was active in the American Legion.

His son Marvin Smith was an Army SSgt. during WWII.

Ray's son Eldon Smith was elected to the SD State Senate in 1970 representing Potter, Faulk, Edmunds and McPherson Counties, and was a State Senator at the time of his death in 1972, a victim of the Rapid City Flood.

Another son, Gerald Smith, was also a victim of the Rapid City Flood, 1972.

Ray's youngest son, Duane "Dewey" Smith, enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1961, and served 18 months in Ethiopia, Africa as a Military Policeman with the Army Security Agency. He then served one year in Washington, D.C. with the Army Security Agency and was discharged in 1964.

Record	Events	Source Website	Type	Created
Raymond C. Smith		Find a Grave	Fgv Document
WWI book cover.jpg		Fold3	Image	Sep 19, 2020
Raymond C Smith.jpeg		Fold3	Image	Sep 20, 2020
Ray Smith tombstone.JPG		Fold3	Image	Sep 20, 2020
Dakota Sunset Museum.JPG	Military Service	Fold3	Image	Sep 23, 2020
Pvt. Claude C Smith - 1893		Fold3	Memorial	Sep 19, 2020
Devere Smith 1897-1918		Fold3	Memorial	Sep 19, 2020

Pvt. Raymond C Smith 1891-1965

Source Documents