Matthew Wade Smolik passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Feb. 7, 2016, following an accident in which he sustained a traumatic brain injury.

Matt was born in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Aug. 29, 1975, to Jeanette (Wevik) and Clarence "Cy" Smolik. He was raised on the family farm in rural Beresford, S.D., where he learned the value of hard work and developed a great love for farming. Matt started helping around the farm at a very young age. He learned how to drive a tractor by sitting on his Dad's lap, developed his strong muscles by throwing hay bales and built his courage by testing live electric fences. He quickly became known as the boy who could fix anything and enjoyed taking things apart just to put them back together. He loved to spend hours in the truck shed where his Dad let him use any of the tools he wanted.

Matt graduated from Beresford High School in 1994. He participated in football, basketball, baseball and excelled in track, medaling at the State Track Meet. Following high school Matt went to South Dakota State University, graduating as one of the first classes in the construction management program. While at State he cemented a number of friendships and met his future wife.

Following graduation, Matt worked for The Ryan Company, working on projects and living in Denver, Detroit and San Diego. His love for the Midwest and the outdoors brought him back to South Dakota in 2004. He continued to work in the construction industry in a variety of capacities with Fox Drywall & Plastering, Sanford Health and most recently Creative Surfaces. He also farmed part-time on the family farm he grew up on.

On May 12, 2007, Matt married Amy Bennett in Sioux Falls. They made their home in Tea, S.D. Their son Brandt Bennett was born in 2008 and their daughter Emerson Clare was born in 2010. Matt's greatest joy in life was his family and being a father to his children and making memories with them: camping, fishing, spending time at the family farm, coaching T-ball, going to the drive-in movie theater, among many other memories. Over the years Matt and Amy bonded over many long road trips and shared some of those experiences with their kids. Matt had special memories of taking Brandt hunting in Timber Lake, S.D., and quiet mornings with Emerson, rocking her while she drank chocolate milk. They are members of Tea Trinity Lutheran Church and also attended Roseni Lutheran Church in rural Beresford.

Matt was an active person his whole life. He loved spending time outside, tinkering on the farm, waterskiing, snow skiing, camping, fishing and hunting. He was also very adventurous and went skydiving and earned his scuba certification. His smile could light up a room and he had kind words for everyone he met.

Matt leaves a hole in the hearts of those left to mourn him: his wife, Amy, and children Brandt and Emerson, of Tea, S.D.; his mother, Jeanette, of Beresford, S.D.; his sister Saretta Smolik Cavazos, brother-in-law Alex Cavazos, goddaughters/nieces Cyanna and Cameryn and godson/nephew Cason of San Antonio, Texas; in-laws Bill and Maureen Bennett of Sioux Falls, S.D.; sister-in-law Christine (Peter) Bisson and nephew Franklin of Manchester, N.H.; brother-in-law Bill Bennett, Jr. of Austin, Texas; Aunt Jan (Roger) Smith of Marshalltown, Iowa; Uncle Merle (Margaret Ticktin) Wevik of Beresford; Uncle Jim (Bonnie) Smolik of Sun City West, Ariz.; Uncle Galen (Kathy) Smolik of Boise, Id.; Aunt Karla (Larry) Sprenger of Sioux Falls; Uncle Ned (Gloria) Smolik of Spearfish, S.D.; Aunt Dorothy Lynch of Kalispell, Mont.; Aunt Philipine Smolik of Mobridge, S.D.; and Aunt Donna (Kelly) Chapman of Moville, Iowa; first cousins Michelle O'Connor, Tim O'Connor, Steve Smolik, Greg Smolik, Galen Smolik Jr., Rachel (Smolik) Sheets, Sarah Smolik, Michael Sprenger, Krissa (Sprenger) Eisfeldt, David Smolik, Jennifer Smolik, JD Lynch, Dawson Lynch, Ted Smolik, Brian Smolik, Becky (Chapman) Schultzen, and Levi Chapman; and countless life-long friends.

Matt was preceded in death by his father Cy Smolik; grandparents Ted and Anna Smolik; grandparents Elmer "Pat" and Mildred Wevik; Uncle Victor Smolik and Uncle Wes Lynch.

From the family: We prayed for a miracle; instead Matt was able to be part of several other families' miracles by sharing gifts through organ donation.