Beverly "Ducky" Smith
August 15, 1934 — December 18, 2016
Beverly “Ducky” Smith, age 82, resident of Lawton, ND, died Sunday, December 18, 2016 at Sanford Medical Center in Mayville, ND.
Beverly Rae Matejcek was born August 15, 1934 at Lawton, ND, the daughter of Ernest and Ruth (Johnson) Matejcek. She was raised in Lawton, but lived in Cloquet, MN for a short time, before returning to Lawton where she attended school and graduated with the class of 1952 at Lawton High School. Ducky married Ronald J. Smith on October 26, 1952 at Lawton. Together they farmed near Lawton and raised four children. In 1965 Ducky began operating the Co-op CafAC., where she worked for 23 years. She continued working and managed charitable gaming for the Special Olympics in the Lakota area. She also ran the front desk at SunLac Inn for many years until retiring in 2010. Her beloved Ronnie died January 11, 1998. Ducky contributed to her community in many ways; as a member of Lawton Lutheran Church and the Ladies Aid, Lawton Senior Citizens Club, Community Club, Card Club, the Devils Lake Concert Series, youth director for the Ramsey County Farmers Union Board, and many others. She loved visiting and being involved with people, which was evident as she hugged everyone she met. Ducky and Ronnie travelled many winters with her parents to Las Vegas and the west coast. She was certainly an avid Twins fan and enjoyed going to the casino.
Ducky will be deeply missed by her favorite son, Bryon Smith & his wife Joni of Fargo, ND; 3 daughters, Jody Gilman & her husband Tony of San Ramon, CA, Gayle Holth & her husband Wayne of Fairdale, ND, and Tracy Braaten & her husband Neil of Mayville, ND; 8 grandchildren, Anne, Kelsey & Jordan, Kayla, Heather & Deidre, and Cassie & Ben; 6 great grandchildren, Liam & Wylie, Adalee, Marley & Maddyn, and Hudson.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Ronald; and brother, Burgess “Bud” Matejcek.
The Funeral Service will be held at Lawton Lutheran Church on Friday, December 23, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. Interment will be in the spring at the Lawton Cemetery. Visitation will be held at the Aaker Funeral Home of Lakota on Thursday, beginning at 5:00 p.m. with a Prayer Service at 7:00 p.m. Visitation will continue at the church on Friday, from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Lawton Lutheran Church or the Lawton Cemetery.
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