Diane Smith Avant

Mass of Christian Burial were held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, February 20, 2010 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Highmore with Father Paul Nereparampil officiating. Burial was at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Highmore. Visitation was held from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., Friday, February 19, 2010 followed by a 7:00 p.m. prayer service at the church.

Diane Louise was born Mary 28, 1963 at St. John’s Hospital in Huron to La Verne and Elizabeth (Roche) Smith of Highmore. Diane was baptized and confirmed in the Catholic Faith at St. Mary’s Church in Highmore. She graduated from Highmore High School in 1981. After high school, she attended Mitchell Area Vo-Tech for a year before entering the United States Army. She was stationed at Ft. Lewis, Washington. She served in Germany as a medic and was honorably discharged in 1985. She then served three years in the National Guard.

In 1986 she worked at Wall Drug and then from 1986 to 1987, she enrolled at Lake Area Vo-Tech in Watertown, completing her Medical Records degree. She then enrolled in nursing school at Lake Area Vo-Tech and graduated as a registered nurse. She took her board exams in the fall of 1992.

She married Jeff Moes in January of 1988. To this union, one daughter, Christine, was born. From 1992 to 1998, she worked as a registered nurse at St. Mary’s Hospital in Pierre. In 1998, she moved to Rochester, Minnesota where she was employed at Assisi Heights until 2001. She returned to Sioux Falls and began working at McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls. In 2004, she returned to Rochester briefly before moving back to Sioux Falls. She married Don Avant in November of 2004.

Diane was greatly loved and will be missed by her family.

Left to mourn her passing is her daughter, Christine Moes of Watertown, SD; mother, Elizabeth Smith of Highmore, SD; six sisters, two brothers, 18 nieces and nephews and six great nieces and nephews: Sandra (Tony) Holzemer of Sioux Falls, SD; Terry (Dee) Smith of Rochester, MN and their children: Jason Smith of Michigan, Tom (Jackie) Smith and Aggie of Minneapolis, MN, Bryan Smith of Madison, WI and Jon Smith of Steubenville, OH and Colene Smith of Rochester, MN; Debra (Jerry) Webb of Harrold, SD and their children: Jeremy (Amy) and Jonah Webb of Alcester, SD, Ryan Webb of Aberdeen, SD, Rosalee (Dustin) Renken and Morgan of Harrold, SD; Kathy (Doyle) Heying of Piedmont, SD and their children: Amber (Joshua) Tjeerdsma and Sebastian and Isabella of Rapid City, SD, Joshua Heying of Sioux Falls, SD; Jodi and children: Caty, Jasmine and Wade of Minot, ND; and Les (Faith) Smith of Yankton and their children: Alex, Kenedy and Jackson Smith of Yankton, SD; Pamela (Curtis) Merriman and their children: Nicole and Justin of Pierre, SD; Erin Smith of Ft. Pierre; Callista Smith of Faulkton, SD, and Diane’s husband, Don Avant of Rapid City, SD.

She was preceded in death by her beloved father, La Verne in November of 1991.

Luze Funeral Home of Highmore has been entrusted with Diane's arrangements.

MINISTER
Father Paul Nereparampil

CASKETBEARERS
Jerry Webb
Ryan Webb
Jeremy Webb
Joshua Heying
Joshua Tjeerdsma
Tony Holzemer

LECTORS
Kenedy Smith
Alex Smith

GUESTBOOK
Caty Huwe

ALTAR SERVERS
Jayme Baloun
Jace Baloun

ORGANIST
Katherine Hieb

MUSICIANS
St. Mary's Choir

SELECTIONS
"How Great Thou Art"
"Irish Blessing"
"Be Not Afraid"
"Song of Farewell"
"Parable"

INTERMENT
St. Mary's Cemetery
Highmore, South Dakota
Full Military Honors