Peggy S. Smith

SMITH, Peggy S., age 79, of Spring Valley and formerly of Cloquet, Minnesota, passed away on Wednesday, October 15, 2025. Peggy lived most of her adult life on the Fond du Lac Indian Reservation in Minnesota. In addition to the love and care she had for her own children, she devoted her life to being an aide at the Head Start school and fostering kids. Some of the children were temporary, staying during times when the parents needed to get their lives back together, while others were there from infancy to adulthood. In all, she cared for and raised over 100 Native American Indian children. Loving, caring, nurturing, and giving, Peggy was passionate in her love for our great country. She was immensely proud of her children and sons-in-law who served in our military. While politically minded, she always respected the opinion of those she agreed with and those she disagreed with. She enjoyed tent camping with her husband, kids, and foster children, and later with her grandchildren, who she loved dearly. In addition to sitting around the campfire, she often enjoyed fishing. Throughout her life, she had many hobbies. She sewed a wedding dress for one of her daughters, baked wedding and birthday cakes for fun, and enjoyed cooking for her family. Her peanut butter candy was a particular favorite of hers and everyone else. Peggy was preceded in death by her husband, Rollin, in 2021; a granddaughter, Amanda Stoltz; her parents, Sillus and Betty Saylor; and one brother, Monty Saylor. She is survived by one son, Jason (Sandy) Smith; four daughters, Betty (James) Reese, Rhonda (Dennis) Peterson, Lesia Berg, and Peggy (Jeff) Rhoden; 11 grandchildren, Marianna, Jamie, Becky Sue, Cassie, Bobby, Nicholas, Christopher, Shane, Alicia, Adam, and Joey; 18 great-grandchildren; one brother, Matthew Saylor; and one sister, Patsy (Tom) Woodward and many nieces and nephews as well as her “little friend” Bella. A graveside service will be held at 1 pm on Friday, October 24, at the Brock Cemetery at Jesse’s Creek in Coldiron, Kentucky. Sillus Chapman will be officiating the service. Conner & Koch Funeral Home in Bellbrook is serving the family. If desired, contributions may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, https://www.stjude.org/donate/donate-to-st-jude.html. Condolences may be made to the family at www.connerandkoch.com.

Peggy S. Smith

November 9, 1945 - October 15, 2025