Admissions Coordinator Deb Smith dies at 58

Deb Smith, Chadron State College’s Coordinator of Admissions Services, died Sunday, Aug. 18 at Rapid City Regional Hospital after a battle with cancer. She was 58.

Smith was born  July 5, 1961, to Lyle and Yukiko “Cookie” Horn. She grew up in Hay Springs, and was a 1979 graduate of Hay Springs High School. 

Smith, who held a Bachelor of Arts degree from Chadron State College, started her CSC career in the late 1990s and became the Admissions Coordinator in 2001. Although her responsibilities changed over time, her recent charge was primarily working with incoming graduate students. Smith also was a longtime sponsor of the CSC Dance Team and worked closely with hundreds of students and Admissions Ambassadors over the years. 

She was preceded in death by her mother, Yukiko “Cookie” Horn. She is survived by her son, Mark Horn II of Lincoln; her daughter, Sara Smith of Chadron; her father, Lyle (Nicolette) Horn of Hay Springs; her brother, Mark (Cammy) Horn of Billings, Montana; her sister, Connie (John) Lutz of Scottsbluff; several nieces and nephews and their children. 

Family, friends, and others whose lives were touched by Smith are invited to attend a celebration of her life, 10 a.m.  Friday, Aug. 23, at Chamberlain Chapel, 1700 Highway 20, Chadron. 

To honor Smith’s love of animals, the family asks that memorials be made to Friends of Pets or the charity of the donor’s choice. 

CSC employees wishing to speak with a support resource should contact Chadron State’s Employee Assistance Provider (EAP) at 1-800-755-7636.