Zita Rose Smith was born on June 21, 1930, in Sioux City, Iowa, the daughter of Dr. A. Francis and Isabel (Emundson) Smith. She grew up in Manning, and attended school. She graduated from Manning High School in 1948. She attended Loretto Heights College in Denver for 2 years. Zita married Pat Sullivan on September 3, 1951, in Manning. The couple lived in several communities in Northwest Iowa following Pat's coaching and teaching career. In 1979 they moved to Dell Rapids and semi-retired on a farm Northwest of Dell Rapids. They moved into Dell Rapids in 1993.

Zita died on Saturday, January 13, 2007 at the Prince of Peace Nursing Home in Sioux Falls. She was 76 and preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Arden.

Those left to cherish her memory are her husband, Pat of Sioux Falls; her daughter, Kerry (Joe) Thornell of Montgomery, Alabama; her two grandsons, Joe and Ryan.

A Memorial Mass will begin at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 17, 2007, at St. Mary Catholic Church, Dell Rapids. The family will be present at the church one hour prior to the service.

Memorials may be directed to: the Alzheimer's Association 1000 N. West Ave. #250 Sioux Falls, SD 57104