Donald Edmund Smith – Post Bulletin

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Don was born on August 2, 1941, in Winona, MN. He attended Winona High School until joining the Navy in 1958 at age 17. Don served aboard the USS Duval County LST-758 and the USS Thomaston LSD-28 as a gunners mate, until his discharge in 1962. During his time in the service, he did two tours overseas and one in the Marshall Islands. He also served two years as an MP in the 336th MP reserve unit in Rochester, Minnesota.

After his discharge he attended Winona Technical School while working at Lake Center Industries until he graduated. Don previously worked at IBM where he was a loyal employee for 30 years, retiring as a buyer. After retirement he had many jobs, including driving a school bus for 10 years. Don was a lifelong member of the Elks and Eagles.

In 1963, Don married Susan Cox and they later divorced. In 1993 Don met and married Janet Sweeny until she passed away in 2002 from lung cancer. In 2004 he met special friend Rita Tollefsrud who has been by his side ever since.

Survivors include two sons, Rick of Lakeville, MN and Jeremy of Kasson, MN; a daughter, Tracy of Oceanside, CA; grandson, Scott; great-grandchildren, Avery, Ashlyn and Bryson; and two stepchildren, Lisa and Mark of Rochester, MN.

He was preceded in death by his parents and son-in-law Randy.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, June 2, 2023, at Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Home (5421 Royal Place NW, Rochester, MN 55901). Burial was in Hamilton Cemetery in rural Racine, MN.

Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Home is honored to serve the Smith family; to share a special memory or condolence, please visit www.ranfranzandvinefh.com.

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