Floyd David Smith, age 84, of Hot Springs, South Dakota, died peacefully in his sleep from bladder cancer on Tuesday, June 3, 2025.

He was born on January 23, 1941, to Earl D. and Marie (Gengler) Smith in Litchfield, Minnesota.

He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1959 and spent the next 5 years traveling the seas as a boilerman. He was honorably discharged in 1964. He then spent another 9 years in the U.S. Navy Reserves where he studied and passed the tests for his G.E.D.

He met the love of his life (Linda Spike) when he went to have supper with his sister, Adel, in an apartment she shared with Linda as a roommate.

He was instructed in the Lutheran faith and became a member of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church in 1967.

On September 30, 1967, Floyd David Smith and Linda Julie Spike were united in holy matrimony at St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Buffalo, Minnesota. They spent almost 58 years together enjoying their life with each other.

He was employed over the years at: Control Data, Elk River Powerplant, Carlson Cement, Buffalo Senior High School, Basin Electric Power Cooperative, Laramie River Station, Wheatland, Wyoming, from which he retired after 25 years of service.

He liked to go hunting and trapping with friends. He also collected guns, enjoyed target shooting, riding his Harley, and his 4-wheeler, especially his Teryx with his wife.

Floyd was preceded in death by his parents Earl. N and Marie Smith; Brother Charles, Douglas, Sidney; sister Louella Thompson, father and mother-in-law Roy and Hazel Spike.

He is survived by brothers Francis, John Herman, Roy, Daynor, Vernon, sisters; Barbra Aurentz, Adele Markstead, LaVonne Smith and Arvilla Haugen; sisters and brother-in-law Karen and Nathanial Sapaude; sister and brother and in law Kenneth and Brenda Spike; his beloved wife Linda; and many relatives, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

A celebration of life or a memorial service will be held at a later date.

Arrangements have been placed in the care of Chamberlain McColleys Funeral Home.