Dallas Smith

Dallas Earl Smith, age 74 of Rochester, died September 5, 2021 peacefully at his home with his beloved family by his side after a year and a half battle with colon cancer. Born in Poplarville, Mississippi on December 27, 1946 and then spent his childhood in Northern California. After graduating from high school in Lodi, California, he joined the US Navy during the Vietnam era and served four years on the USS Jason, stationed in San Diego. He and his future wife (Betty Ives) met at a party in San Diego. They were married on October 5, 1969. They almost made it to 52 years and in honor of this very special day we decided to have the funeral on October 5. After living seven years in San Diego, Betty talked him into moving to Minnesota. He was never the same after that, he hated the cold Minnesota winters! They raised their family in Rochester. He had a successful 35 year career with the Rochester Post Bulletin's Agri News as an advertising sales manager, driving an average of 700 miles per week around Southeastern Minnesota. He only went in the ditch one time! He was a handyman "jack of all trades" and if he didn't know how to do something, he would go to the library back in the "olden days" and teach himself. He remodeled several homes from top to bottom including redesigning and finishing interior spaces and then going outside to do all of the exterior design and landscaping projects. He loved fishing on his pontoon at Lake Pepin, gardening, fixing cars and he was always working on projects at home or at his beloved trailer in Pepin, Wisconsin. He was also a master chef making the worlds BEST spaghetti with his home canned tomatoes, garlic toast, fish fries, gourmet "Papa's" popcorn, Chex mix and peanut brittle for "all the kids". He will be missed by his loving wife, Betty; brother Louis Elton Smith (Pat Cooke) of Santee, CA; daughters Alissa Adamson (Terry Selke); Jessica (Allen) Nelson of Rochester, MN; son Jordan (Annah) Smith; eight grandchildren, Raquel and David Adamson; Nadea and Alea Sabry, Aiden Nelson, Addison and Olivia Smith and Keegan Selke; and two step-grandchildren, Sara Zapata and Jameel Sabry. Dallas was preceded in death by two infant sons Jason & Justin, his father Edsel Smith and mother Willie Faye Mitchel Langworthy. Visitation will be held from 5 pm to 7 pm on Monday, October 4th at Ranfranz & Vine Funeral Home, 5421 Royal Pl NW, Rochester, MN and funeral services will be held at Bethel Lutheran Church, 810 3rd Ave SE, Rochester, MN, on Tuesday, October 5th at 11 am. The family asks that masks be worn at the visitation and service. Burial will take place at the Minnesota State Veteran's Cemetery in Preston, Minnesota. at 2 pm. Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Home is honored to be serving the Smith family; to share a special memory or condolence please visit www.ranfranzandvinefh.com In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the family or Donor's Choice.