Conrad Smit

Dates

Obituary

Conrad Smit, 82, of Norman, OK, died Tuesday, May 16, 2023, in Norman. Funeral services will be 2:30 PM Thursday, May 25, at the United Methodist Church in White Lake, SD. Burial will be at White Lake Cemetery. Arrangements by Bittner Funeral Chapel.

Conrad “Connie” Jerry Smit was born to John and Swanie (Mos) Smit in Geddes, South Dakota, on March 18, 1941. He spent his childhood playing and working on their family farm in Platte, SD. Upon graduating from Platte High School, he served in the South Dakota Army National Guard.

Conrad married Gisela Helga Schwarz on November 23, 1960. He worked for the South Dakota State Hospital in Yankton until he was called to duty during the Berlin Crisis. After his return, he went to work as a salesman for the Fuller Brush Company and on to being a manager for several years, until advancing to a parts store in Platte.

Conrad and Gisela moved their family to Norman, Oklahoma in 1973 after his discharge from the service. He began working as a manager for the “Daily Oklahoman & Times” newspaper. He worked his way up to becoming the Circulation Director of Norman until his retirement in 2003.

Throughout their years, Conrad and Gisela loved traveling and fishing, including going through the Panama Canal. One of his greatest joys was catching an 800lb Marlin off the shores of Mexico.

Conrad loved his family with all his heart and would do anything for them until the time of his death on May 16, 2023.

Conrad Smit is survived by his wife, Gisela Smit; daughters, Cynthia Lynn (Smit) Hargrove, and Deborah Kay (Smit) Wiggins, and grandson, Jakob Conrad Wiggins, all in Norman, OK; sisters-in-law, Norma Schwarz of Midwest City, OK, and Debi Schwarz of Chula Vista, CA; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was proceeded in death by his parents, John and Swanie Smit of Platte, SD; three brothers: Wilber (Platte, SD), Roy (Hot Springs, SD), and Frank & wife, Jerry (Colorado); and one sister, Margaret & husband, Glen Olson. Also, sister-in-law & husband, Inge and Darrel “Bud” Glissendorf; brothers-in-law: Juergen Schwarz and Peter Schwarz; and a nephew, Rodney Glissendorf. Conrad and Gisela also lost their only son, DeWayne Conrad Smit (Norman, OK) in 2007 and a son-in-law, Robert Hargrove (Norman, OK).

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Cemetery