Donald Byron Smith
Donald Byron Smith, 89, Lake Mills, passed away Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2022.
Donald was born May 23, 1933, the seventh child of Bruce Sr. and Martha (Doege) Smith. Don was born in Winnebago County. When he was five years old, the family moved to a farm northwest of Scarville. He was baptized and confirmed at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Scarville.
Don went to country school for his elementary education and then to Scarville High School, where he graduated in 1950. He worked for farmers and the stockyard in Scarville.
Don was drafted and served in the Army from 1953 to 1955, working in the motor pool. He went to DeVry Technical School in Chicago, Ill., to study electronics. Upon graduation, he worked at TV shops in Eagle Grove and Clarion.
In 1960, Don purchased what became Smith Radio and TV in Lake Mills, which he operated for 30 years. His mother always declared, “Don can fix anything.”
He married Janice Loge and her three children Oct. 21, 1970. Don and Janice loved to travel. They won several trips through the TV shop, as well as on their own, that took them to Europe, Japan, Morrocco, several cruises, and they were fortunate to travel to all 50 U.S. states. They have traveled to several areas on the BMW motorcycle that Don loved to ride and camped in a pup tent often in those travels.
Don and Janice started spending winters in Arizona in 1994, at first in an RV park on the north side of Pheonix and then later in a condo in Sun City, Ariz.
Don enjoyed woodworking, building and flying remote control airplanes, and playing pool.
Don is survived by his wife, Janice Smith; his daughter, Kathy (George) Henderson; and a son, Kerry (Tami) Loge; son-in-law, Lary Anderson; grandchildren: Cassie and Carley Anderson, Teig and Tre Loge, Jeremey (Brooke) and Joshua (Kandice) Ainley, Jim (Jenny) Henderson, Sara (Jeff) Waldner, Katie (Bryan) Hooey; 13 great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Donnabelle Smith; and several nieces and nephews.
He is proceeded in death by his parents, Bruce and Martha Smith; his in-laws, Ben and Marvel Teigland; a daughter, Kim Anderson; and his brothers and sisters: Harold, Barney, Bruce Jr., Russell, Darlene, and Marge.
Per his wishes, there will be no funeral service.
