John Albert Smallfield, 83, of Elkton, SD, passed away on Friday, October 23, 2020 at the Brookings Hospital. John was born in the family farmhouse in rural Elkton on February 22, 1937, to Otto and Beatrice (Winkowitsch) Smallfield. In high school, John spent his summers working for Tuffy Oien, a Dell Rapids farmer who raised, sold, and showed registered Hereford cattle. John showed cattle for Oien at state fairs in South Dakota, Iowa, and Minnesota. John graduated from Flandreau High School in 1956. He was awarded both the South Dakota and the National FFA Farmer awards. On April 18, 1958, he married Corrine Miller.  He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1959 and was stationed in Alaska his final year before returning to the farm to work with his dad, later running the farm.  He married Eunice Ehlers on February 7, 1972, and became step-father to three children. After retiring from farming in 1991, John began working at the Royal River Casino as a blackjack dealer and later a pit boss until his retirement. John was a member of Our Savior's Lutheran Church. He enjoyed being an usher for the church and eventually became Head Usher. He was also on the Spring Creek Township Board of Directors for many years. John's hobbies included fishing, hunting, and dancing. He attended Monday evening senior citizen dances in Brookings and for several years, organized the Elkton dances. John enjoyed having coffee with friends and, most of all, spending time with his family and extended family.

John is survived by his step-children: Marlys (Blaine) Ailts, Brookings, SD; Connie (Bob) Van Diepen, Huron, SD; and Eddie (Michelle) Ehlers, Sioux Falls, SD; 7 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren; siblings: Virgene Bullis, Knoxville, IA; Helen McDaniel, Holton, KS; Delbert (Florence) Smallfield, Bloomington, MN; Frances Smallfield, Palm Desert, CA; Karen (Ray) Johnson, Hephzibah, GA; Beverly Jones, Wentworth, SD; and Dorothy Leraas, Brookings, SD; and many nieces, nephews, extended relatives, and friends. John was preceded in death by his parents, Otto and Beatrice and brother-in-laws Robert Swenson, Ernie Bullis, JD McDaniel, and Jim Jones.

Private family funeral services will be held with livestream available to the public beginning at 11:00 am on Wednesday, October 28, 2020 on the Skroch Funeral Chapel website (www.skrochfc.com). Pastor Alan Blankenfeld will officiate. Burial will be in Union Cemetery, Flandreau. Masks and social distancing precautions are highly recommended for family that will be in attendance at the church. Visitation, without family present, will be held Tuesday, October 27, 2020 from 5:00-7:00 pm at Skroch Funeral Chapel, Flandreau.