Dodge City - Milton Lee Smith, 85, died March 11, 2025 at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita. He was born on September 20, 1939 at Garden City, the son of Sam and Susie (Unruh) Smith and the youngest of nine children.

Milton's growing up years were spent on the family farm, north of Copeland. He attended school in Ingalls through the eighth grade. After completing his education he went to work on the family farm with his father, raising corn and wheat. At 18, Milton completed his 1W service in a Denver Hospital.

He returned home to marry his childhood sweetheart and love of his life, Shirley Koehn. They were married in June of 1961at the Baptist Church in Satanta. The couple made their first home in Dodge City, later moving to Sublette, where Milton started his own auto body repair shop. They then moved to Dodge City and Milton went to work for Ervs Body Shop from 1962 until his retirement. It was here that they raised their children, Richard and Trista. They enjoyed many family vacations, creating those precious memories.

Milton loved to sing and play the guitar. He and Shirley along with some other friends formed a gospel singing group, Gospel Melodies later changing the name to Gospel Gold. They traveled around the area singing at many different churches and nursing homes.

He is survived by his loving wife Shirley of Montezuma; two children, Richard Smith and wife Janet of Olathe and Trista Bray and husband Raymond of Dodge City, five grandchildren Alex Smith, Lindsay Church, Emily Smith, Cody Lampe, Cassandra Lampe, and four step grandchildren, five great grandchildren, seven step great grandchildren, five step great great grandchildren; sister, Doris Friesen and husband Bill; sisters-in-laws, Betty Anthony of Satanta, Judy Dietz and husband Rod of Wichita. Milton is preceded in death by his parents; seven siblings, Pearl, Irene, Viola, Verda, Frances, Erv, and Vernon.

Memorial service will be held at Grace Community Church, Dodge City, on Saturday, March 15, 2025 at 10:30 AM with Pastor Kirk Larson presiding. Burial will at a later date at Salem Mennonite Cemetery, Copeland. There is no visitation as cremation has taken place. Memorials are suggested to Grace Community Church of Dodge City in care of Swaim Funeral Chapel. Thoughts and memories may be shared in the online guest book at www.swaimfuneralhome.com.