Rhonda Smith

Funeral service for Rhonda Smith will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, September 28, 2024, at First Baptist Church, 501 S. Gillette Ave., Gillette, Wyoming, with Pastor Donovan Voigt officiating. Burial will follow at the Moorcroft Cemetery. Visitation will take place from 5 to 7 p.m., with a prayer service starting at 7 p.m., Friday, September 27, 2024, at Gillette Memorial Chapel.

Rhonda Kae Smith, age 67 of Gillette, passed away Thursday, September 19, 2024 from complications of COPD. Rhonda was born on August 22, 1957 to Virgil and Lois Hilkemeier, in Kimball, Nebraska.

When in grade school, the family moved to Belle Creek, Montana. Rhonda's freshman year of high school the family moved to Moorcroft, Wyoming.

Shortly after starting school, she met the love of her life, Robert "Bill" William Smith, Jr. They were married June 22, 1974. To this union, they added three children and adopted their granddaughter.

Rhonda enjoyed being a homemaker and watching her children grow up for many years. It was during this time she started Rhonda's Fancy Candies. She added making and decorating beautiful cakes.

After Rhonda's children started school, she went to work at The Keg. After years of working, Rhonda went back to college, earning her Associates Degree in Business and graduating with honors.

She worked at Lakeway Power Sports for many years. Rhonda then started substitute teaching.

Rhonda was the first office manager at Healing Hearts Home Health from 2018 to 2020. She was very proud to help her niece, Lacy, with anything and everything as the business started and grew.

Rhonda's greatest accomplishment was her family. She had an open-door policy to all her children's friends and anyone else.

She never met a stranger. Always listening and helping without judgement. She always made sure you knew you were loved.

Rhonda enjoyed family meals, games and just hanging out, spoiling her grandchildren and great grandchildren and making people laugh. She lived the last six years with her daughter, Leah.

Rhonda touched so many lives and was loved by so many. Her compassion to help others, big heart, big smile, sense of humor and, most importantly, her faith in God will be greatly missed.

Rhonda is survived by her children, Jeromy (Sherry) Smith, Leah (Butch) Crabtree, Josh (Paige) Smith; grandchildren, Brittney (Brody) Delfino, Toby, Shaela, Patience, Cadence, Rylan, Bristol; great grandchildren, Elias, Jaxton, Aaliyah, Jeromy and Anthony; siblings, Danny (Char) Hilkemeier, Donna (Dave) Mader, Connie (Kevin) Christianson, Perry (Lisa) Hilkemeier; and her many beloved nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Bill; parents, Virgil and Lois Hilkemeier; step mother, Barb (Jeffres) Hilkemeier.

Memorials may be sent Healing Hearts Home Health, 902 E 3rd St, Gillette, WY 82716. Condolences may be sent to her children or expressed at http://www.gillettememorialchapel.com.