----Source: Greenwood Gleaner 4/3/1919

ALDA CAROLINE SMITH
 

Alda Caroline Smith departed this life at the home of her aunt, Mrs. A. L. Curtis, in this place Sunday morning. The announcement of her death filled our hearts with sorrow as we realized we had lost one of our most respected citizens and best known young ladies.

Alda Caroline Smith was born May 4, 1895 at Greenwood, Clark County, Wis. She attended school at and near Greenwood, graduating from the high school there in 1913.

In July of the same year she came to Castlewood, S.D. intending to teach in the rural schools and making her home with her aunt, Mrs. A. L. Curtis. Finding congenial work as a bookkeeper in the First National Bank of Calstlewood, she gave up her purpose to teach. She remained in the service of the bank for more than five years.

In the fall of 1917 Miss Smith entered the freshman class of the State College at Brookings, hoping to satisfy her ambition for a college training. Her term of study was cut short in 1918 by the necessity for an operation for abdominal cancer. She recovered rapidly from the operation and resumed work in the bank in April 1918. The disease reappeared in December, but she continued at her post until the middle of the present month. Twelve days of weakness and suffering followed and early Sunday morning, March 23, 1919, she answered to the call of the life beyond.

Alda was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Castlewood and a teacher in its Sunday School. Her immediate surviving family consists of her father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. J.C. Smith of Greenwood, Wis., her brothers Clarke and Hugh Smith, and her sisters, Misses Cecil, Leone and Annette Smith.

The funeral services were held on Wednesday afternoon. There was a short service at the home and the regular services were held in the Presbyterian Church, conducted by Rev. Thomas Bell, the Pastor.

The large edifice was comfortably filled with the large number of bereaved relatives and grief stricken friends who were present to pay the last sad respects to the memory of an estimable young lady who was held in the highest esteem by all who knew her. The floral offerings were profuse and beautiful. The burial took place in the Castlewood Cemetery. The earthly career of Alda Caroline Smith was of well spent life one of lofty motives, purpose and achievement. She will be missed by all our people, and especially by those who came in contact with her in business, social, church and Sunday School work.

Our people extend their sincere sympathy to the bereaved father and mother, members of the family and relatives and friends. (Hamlin County, South Dakota Republican)