Linda May Abbott

Linda May Abbott, age 79, of Yankton, South Dakota, died on Saturday, February 7, 2026 at Avera Sister James Care Center in Yankton.

A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 AM, on Wednesday, February 11, 2026 at St. Benedict Catholic Church in Yankton with Reverend Darin Schmidt officiating. Burial will be at 12:30 PM (Mountain Time) on Friday, February 13, 2026 at the Black Hills National Cemetery in Sturgis, South Dakota. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the mass at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of the Wintz & Ray Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Yankton.  The service will be livestreamed at www.facebook.com/WintzRay.

Linda was born January 16, 1947 in Pierre, South Dakota. She was the first of Harold and Iola (Schmitgen) Miller’s nine children. The Miller family moved to Lead, SD in 1953 where Linda graduated from Lead High School in 1965. She married Walter “Bud” Smith on March 25, 1967 at the Berean Baptist Church in Lead. Bud and Linda lived in the Lead/Deadwood area, where their three children, Mary, Cindy Lynn, and David were born. In 1972, they moved to Belle Fourche, SD. Bud passed away in 1988. Linda married Raymond Abbott in June 1989. Linda was a caregiver and outreach worker for Western SD Community Action. Raymond passed away on June 20, 2004. In 2006, Linda moved to Pierre, SD and then to Yankton, SD in 2015 to be with her significant other, Duane. She loved and cared for Duane until his passing in 2019.

Linda loved all types of crafting; needle work, quilting, and she recently discovered diamond art painting. She found so much joy in crocheting projects that she would gift to friends and family. She also enjoyed going to rummage sales and auctions looking for treasures for the Yankton Antique Mall, where she volunteered a lot of her time. Linda was a friend to everyone and she loved helping others. She will be remembered for her kindness, gentle spirit, and the love she gave to all.

Linda is survived by her son, David Smith of Sioux Falls, SD; son-in-law, Eugene Miller of Box Elder, SD; eight grandchildren: Harley, Brytnii, Anthony, Jessica, Tiffany, Calinda, Spencer and Isabella; two great grandchildren; six siblings: Marjorie (Larry) Walden of Red Bluff, CA, Dora (Terry) Bowling of Rapid City, SD, Teresa (Nick) Knox of Chesapeake, VA, Carrie (Bob) Connor of Sturgis, SD, Donna (Ethane) Reed of Rapid City and Harvey (Patty) Miller of Rapid City; and many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.

Linda was preceded in death by her parents, both husbands, her two daughters, Mary and Cindy Lynn; two brothers: Tommy and Jerry Miller; and significant other, Duane Kleinschmit.