Danny Joe Smith

Danny Smith, 78, of Lehigh, passed away peacefully on Monday, August 31, 2026, at UnityPoint Trinity Regional Medical Center in Fort Dodge after a short but hard-fought battle from complications due to cancer. He was surrounded by his loving wife and their five children.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, September 4th, at the Christian Church in Lehigh. Interment will be held in West Lawn Cemetery in Lehigh. Visitation will be held from 5:00-7:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 3rd, at the Christian Church in Lehigh. Carson-Stapp Funeral Home in Dayton has been entrusted with arrangements.

Danny Smith, the son of Roger Shelton Smith Sr. and Lena Katherine (Murphy) Smith, was born June 28, 1948, in Fort Dodge, Iowa, and graduated from Central Webster High School in 1966.

On May 27, 1967, Danny was united in marriage to the love of his life, Susan Lowrey. After their marriage, the couple lived in Fort Dodge for a few years but ended up settling in Lehigh in 1971.

Danny sold cars for many years and worked at Electrolux for over 30 years. He retired from Electrolux when the plant closed.

Danny was a beautiful songwriter. He started his own band “The Ghostriders” in the early 1980s. They played country and 50s/60s music. Music was a huge passion of Danny’s. He enjoyed sharing this passion with his family and friends.

Danny’s legacy is the beautiful loving family that he and Sue created. He was very proud of the relationship and closeness of his family.

Danny is survived by his wife Sue, of over 59 years; his daughters, Ronica (Steven) Poldervaart of Fort Dodge, Angela (Mark) Hinton of Fort Dodge, Tina (the late Mike) Swanson of Fort Dodge, and Stephanie (Andy) Haines of Clare; his son, Brett (Tara) Smith of Lehigh; 16 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren, sisters, Lenore Page and Marilyn McCubbin (Jerry); and sister-in-law, Sue Smith.

He is preceded in death by his father, Shelton Smith; mother, Katherine Smith; brothers, Roger, Sam, Jim, and Kenny Smith; mother-in-law, Helen Evans; and son-in-law, Mike Swanson.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be left to the discretion of the family.