Terry Lee Smith

Terry Lee Smith, age 62, of South Haven, died Saturday, June 17, 2023, at the St. Cloud Hospital, surrounded by his family and close friends. Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Thursday, June 22, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Kimball, with Pastor Dave Milz as the officiant. Burial will follow at Fairhaven Cemetery. A visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday at the Dingmann Funeral Care Chapel in Kimball, with a prayer service at 7 p.m. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Thursday. Terry was born in St. Cloud on Aug. 4, 1960, to Sherrill and Eva (Schacht) Smith. He graduated from Kimball High School in 1979. Terry had a knack for precision, working in his younger years as a carpenter. He was a sharpshooter in pool and hunting alike, and he could fillet every northern he caught without leaving behind a single bone. His front walk was always lined perfectly with zinnias, and he valiantly fought every weed or pest attacking his garden in his backyard. Terry was a loving brother, favorite uncle, and loyal friend to many. He often welcomed visitors with his homemade apple pie, a game of cribbage, or vegetables from his garden. When Terry came out to a gathering, he always had a smile on his face, a cold drink in his hand, and a “five” for all. When the moment struck him, he was known to grin and yell out, “Freedom!” That grin was a contagion he spread to everyone he met, and we can all grin today knowing he is free in heaven from his wheelchair that accompanied him for the past 36 years. Terry is survived by his mother, Eva Smith of Kimball. He is also survived by his favorite partners in mischief, his siblings, Penny (Virgil) Lovejoy of Wakins, Patty (Jim Slentz) Gothier of Fairhaven, Tammy Smith of St. Cloud, Jeff (Tammy) Smith of Albertville, and Nia (Randy) Meierhofer of Watkins and his close friend, Chris Dahlbloom. In addition, Terry is survived by many nieces, nephews, whom he’d trained to respond, “Uncle Red” anytime he asked, “Who’s your favorite uncle?” He is preceded in death by his father, Sherrill Smith, with whom he shared his love of gardening; brother, Randy Smith; his brothers-in-law, Al Johnson, Larry Wittenberg, and David Gothier; and his grandparents. Dan Wittenberg, Blaine Meierhofer, Adam Marquette, Levi Marquette, Jordan Hurrle, and Neil Duncan will serve ascasket bearers. Randy Meierhofer and Pete Heid will serve as honorary casket bearers. Lynn Hoff will provide music for the service. The obituary, guestbook, video tribute and funeral webcast are online at www.dingmannfuneral.com.