Ned Smolik of Spearfish, South Dakota August 23, 1951 – February 26, 2019 Ned Herbert Smolik entered this world on August 23, 1951in Mobridge, SD as the fifth child of Ted and Anna Smolik. He was raised with his seven siblings on the family farm located 13 miles northwest of Timber Lake, SD. He attended Little Oak Elementary school for eight years while he worked with his father and family on the farm.
Being the only left-handed child in the family of eight siblings; Ned always had a special place on the bench at the family table. Ned attended and graduated from Timber Lake High School in 1970 where he participated in football and basketball. A special high school friend of Ned’s was Clayton Millikin.
During the summers of his high school years Ned worked for his Uncle Vince on the Dahlgren ranch and experienced a special relationship with the Dahlgren family and his maternal grandparents, Herbert and Esther Dahlgren. Following high school Ned attended school at Springfield, SD and graduated in 1972 with an electronics certification. He returned to Timber Lake where he worked at the Cheese Plant before moving to the Black Hills in 1974 where he met Gloria Weaver.
After a short courtship, they married in January of 1975. Clayton Millikin was best man at Ned and Gloria’s wedding. He started work at the Homestake saw mill and continued working, for various owners, until his retirement in 2018.
His work included lead maintenance employee on saw sharpening equipment needed for this long-term, lumber operation. Ned was happiest when he was working on special projects, gardening and his family’s home projects. He was always patient and dedicated to his family’s endeavors.
He was outgoing and liked to have conversations with anyone that he met in his daily workplace, family gatherings or during his travels. He enjoyed hunting for birds, deer and also liked to fish with family members. Although usually inseparable from his wife, Gloria, he did participate in a successful fishing trip to Alaska with his brother, Jim, and two nephews, Greg Smolik and Galen Smolik.
Ned talked about this trip for months after his return. A son, David Earl, was born to Ned and Gloria in 1976 and was joined by a sister, Jennifer Rae, in 1980. The family had moved earlier to 5 Nickle Place in Spearfish and that residence, and its modifications, still continues as the family home.
Ned was especially close to his father-in-law, Wendell Weaver, and spent considerable time working on Wendel’s home, automobiles and retired farm equipment. Gloria and Ned opened their home as a family business and Gloria took in a number of pre-school age children. Since Ned worked many night shifts, he was often helping prepare food or working on projects for the young ones staying days at their home.
He was a father figure to many of the daycare children and would spend time to take his nephews fishing. Ned would spend much of his time helping others, whether it be neighbors, family, co-workers, or anyone in need. Ned also enjoyed his Harley, and he and Gloria took many adventures and trips of the surrounding area.
Ned was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer this last fall and passed away on February 26, 2019. He is survived by his wife, Gloria; his son, David and his wife Jessica Smolik, and their children Dustyna, Tanner, and Kameryn of Gillette, Wy. ; his daughter Jennifer and partner Mike Kinnear and their children Tristen and Karley Kinnear; his father-in-law, Wendell Weaver, along with many nieces and nephews.
He is also survived by one brother, Jim; and three sisters, Karla Sprenger, Dorothy Lynch, and Donna Chapman. Ned was preceded in death by his parents, Ted and Anna Smolik; his mother-in-law, Mrs. Wendell Weaver; and three brothers, Clarence Smolik, Victor Smolik, and Galen Smolik; two brothers-in-law, Wes Lynch, and John Weaver; nephew, Mathew Smolik; and cousin, Lenny Cook. A memorial to benefit St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital or Shriners is suggested by the family.
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