Funeral Service for Ward “Bud” Smalley, 79, of Aberdeen, and formerly of Leola, SD will be 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, July 18, 2012 at First United Methodist Church, 502 S Lincoln St, Aberdeen with Pastor Eldon Reich officiating. Burial will take place at Green Mound Cemetery, Leola.
Ward passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, on Friday, July 13, 2012 at Bethesda Home of Aberdeen.
Ward L. Smalley was born on June 15, 1933 to Ward E. and Orene (Laurence) Smalley at Ordway, SD. The family lived west of Fredrick, SD before moving west of Barnard, SD in 1941. Bud attended grade and high school in Barnard and was a graduate of the Barnard High School Class of 1951. Following graduation, he worked on the family farm with his father.
Bud was united in marriage to Lila Christian on August 26, 1953 at Leola, SD. They made their home in Aberdeen, where Bud was employed as a route driver for Equity Creamery. In 1956, they moved to California and Bud worked as the Assistant Manager at SavOn Drug before going into business for himself. The family relocated to Leola in 1970, where he became the owner and operator of Rolly’s Recreation. In 1972, he started Bud’s Fencing and continued his career there until the time of his retirement in 1995. Following retirement, he drove school bus until 2009. Bud and Lila returned to Aberdeen in May of 2011 and continued to make Aberdeen their home until the time of his death.
Bud was a member of First United Methodist Church in Aberdeen, the Leola Sportsman Club, Leola Volunteer Fire Department and the Senior Citizens. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and camping. He especially enjoyed having coffee and playing cards. He will always be remembered for his generosity, his fun-loving personality and his ability to tell jokes and stories. Bud’s true passion was always his family and he cherished the time spent with them.
Surviving Bud are his wife of nearly 59 years, Lila Smalley of Aberdeen; his daughter, Pam (Lee) Rau of Tucson, AZ; his son, Kevin (Jackie) Smalley of Leola, SD; grandson, Landon Rau; step-grandsons, Charlie and Nick Tesch; and his sisters, Beverly (Frank) DiPietro, Merry (Marvin) Kalt, Angela (George) Whitaker, Cozette Wolff, Joan Henry and Lynne (Larry) Wampler.
He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Gwendolyn Pauley and Gladwyn Smalley and brothers, Gene and Jon Smalley.
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