Melva M. (Herman) Smith was born June 19, 1929 in Hill City, Kansas and passed away peacefully at the age of 94 on December 16, 2023 at the Santana, Kansas Long Term Care Facility. She had been a resident of the Satanta facility the past six years. Melva always joked that she had outlived most all of her friends, and they were all now located “north” of town.
Melva graduated from Hill City High School in 1946 and married Ivan Smith that very same day. After Ivan returned from WWII, they began their life together in Cut Bank, Montana where he started a long career in the oil pipeline business. They soon returned to their roots in Hill City where their two children, Jerry and Kimberly, were born and raised, both graduating from Hill City High.
Ivan’s career with Mobil took them to stints in Valley Center and Topeka, and finally, three years in Saudi Arabia. After retirement in the mid’80’s, they settled back in their hometown of Hill City while spending time traveling the country in their beloved Holiday Rambler Motorhome. They also took many trips abroad with the Holiday Rambler Owner’s Club. They loved spending their winters in an RV retirement community in South Texas in Donna.
Melva was preceded in death by her parents George and Marvel Anderson; husband Ivan; and daughter Kimberly. Survivors remaining to cherish her memory include her son Jerry and his wife Joy of Woodland Park, Colorado and their children Reilly Smitherman and husband Seth (Reno, Nevada), Kylee Smith (Washington, D.C.), Kody Smith (Bozeman, Montana) and granddaughters Allison Schaaf and husband Brook (Dripping Springs, Texas), Kayla Beck and husband Evin (Franklin, Tennessee) and Whitney Merritt and husband Travis (Naples, Florida). In addition, she leaves ten great-grandchildren, Reagan and Teddy Smitherman; Ivan, Seven and Tovin Schaaf; Maddox, Emmy and Elsa Beck and Taras and Anjali Merritt.
Melva’s remains were cremated and placed at the Hill City Cemetery next to her husband Ivan.