Theodore Dale Smith

Theodore Dale Smith, age 85, of Larkspur, CO passed into eternal life on November 15, 2022. A beloved husband, dad, grampie, and friend, Dale was born January 9th, 1937 in Denver, CO to Ted and Barbara (Walker) Smith. Dale was the devoted older brother to his sister Raye. Growing up with his grandparents Charlie and Gertrude Smith on their Cherry Creek Ranch in Douglas County, Dale rode his horse to school through 4th grade. After a move to Colorado Springs, he entered 5th grade at Cheyenne Mountain School. As a student at Cheyenne, he played varsity baseball but favored hockey while working at the Broadmoor Ice Palace. Dale graduated high school in 1954. He then attended Colorado College, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree as a business major in 1958.

Dale met the love of his life, Marieta (Maness) Smith, in 5th grade at Cheyenne School. There was never another in his eyes, and they were married eight years later on September 14th, 1956 at the First United Methodist Church in Colorado Springs. Together they welcomed their first daughter, Jennifer (Smith) Askey in 1958. A second daughter, Lisa (Smith) Rudolph was born in 1960. Their son Duke Smith arrived in 1962, and son Robert (Manijeh) Smith completed the family in 1964.

Dale is preceded in death by his parents; brothers-in-law William Kriz and Robert Maness; nephew Matthew Wilson; and nieces Joan Hill and Heidi Kriz. He is survived by his wife; children; sister Raye (Rick) Wilson and sister-in-law Patricia Kriz; grandsons Ian (Annie) Smith, Connor Smith, Grant (Kaitlyn) Smith, Zachary Askey, and Walker Rudolph; granddaughters Shaye and Megan Smith, Emily Askey, Tessa Smith, Mary and Grace Rudolph; great-grandson Kai Smith; nephews Kurt (Jacqui) Kriz and Dan (Christy) Wilson; niece Sara (Joe) Hunter; and many other relatives.

Learning the skills from his father, Ted Smith, and his uncles, Louie and Nick Pinello, Dale mastered the operation and mechanics of all types of heavy equipment including scrapers and bulldozers. As an engineer for Plains Construction, Dale contributed to several significant projects in the region: he created roads on the property of the United States Air Force Academy, leveled the foundation pad for the Citadel Mall, and shaped the dam for Lake Woodmoor to name only a few. He later became self-employed as the owner of Dale Smith Construction. He spent many years working in conjunction with the Soil Conservation Service of eastern Colorado, building terraces and dams to aid farmers in the wise stewardship of land and resources. Closer to home, there was not a more honest or hardworking heavy equipment operator to be found. His legacy is preserved in countless driveways, dams, and designs that shaped the earth.

Dale’s spirit remains near as we think of the devoted husband, father, grandfather, and friend he was to those he loved. He delighted in watching his family grow and looked forward to any chance to play together, whether it was his decades as a defenseman on ice at a hockey rink, patiently schooling the fish in the pond, snookering opponents with his calculated shots on the pool table, or outsmarting everyone in a marathon game of Mexican train. From a menagerie of household pets to the elk in the meadows and the hawk on the wing, he enjoyed a rare kinship with all God’s creatures. Dale was a quiet, strong, unpretentious man of honor, whose handshake was his promise and whose word was his guarantee. He gave his best on every job and was a faithful provider, always taking care of others before himself. He will be sorely missed for his bear hugs and wry sense of humor, and fondly remembered for the unique gifts he shared with everyone lucky enough to know him. May he rest in the arms of the One who can truly move mountains.

At Dale’s request, a Celebration of Life will take place on Saturday, November 26th at 2pm, at the Russell Gates Mercantile Building in Elbert, CO. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Elbert Presbyterian Church, P. O. Box 159, Elbert, CO 80106 or County Sheriffs of Colorado, Attn: Teresa Donahue, 6001 Ron King Trail Unit C, Littleton, CO 80125-9916.