Sadie Lee Smelker

August 13, 2025

To know her, was to love her- Sadie Lee Smelker was born to Ted and Trina Smelker on Dec. 2, 1991, in Burlington, CO. She was the youngest of 5 girls: Kylie, Audi, Cassie and Chelsea. Sadie attended Stratton Schools, graduated as co-valedictorian in 2010 and went on to attend Denver University with a BA in marketing. She gained more than a degree at DU; she gained numerous friends. She worked at La Vaca Meat Co. in Littleton, CO for a few years before she was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in 2018. After completing treatments, she started a new job with IWP as an associate client service in finance. She found a new family within her work environment. These people would become more than just bosses and colleagues; they became close friends. Growing up we never knew who would get to claim Sadie on their taxes: her parents, the May’s, the Simon’s or the Schulte’s.

To Kylie, she was her little squirt who cried her eyes out when Kylie went to college but became someone Kylie relied heavily on as an adult. Audi adored her little sister and was always known for sending the peace sign to Sadie. Being the two single ladies of the family, Cassie and Sadie enjoyed the same lifestyle. A special bond was added after Cassie spent so much time caring for Sadie during her last illness.  Sadie became Chelsea’s “rock” after losing Kaylee. Sadie was a great healer and comforter for Chelsea and through this, their friendship became stronger. She had a close relationship with her brothers-in-law, Tim and Jamie. She was loved and treated like a little sister.

Sadie’s six greatest blessings were her nieces and nephews: Kaylee, Sage, Brody, Trey, Brooklyn and Carter. Over the years, she developed a special relationship with each one; Whether sharing music, jokes, celebrity gossip or just a text, they all knew how much Sadie loved them.  Sadie had a very close bond with her first niece Kaylee from “day one”. Which only grew stronger in the years of Kaylee’s short life. Sadie’s love for kids was so apparent through the special bonds she developed through her family and friends’ children.

Her love of music took her to many concerts, many hours of documentaries and live performances. One of her proudest possessions was her dad’s stereo system and tons of vinyl. She was always up for a good time at a party, laughing and dancing. You could catch her at a Bronco game or having dinner with friends. Sadie had a carefree hippie heart and definitely would have been a groupie if she had grown up in the sixties.  She displayed her unwavering faith in God by the way she loved and accepted others. It’s easy to know why Sadie had so many close friendships; her loyalty, kindness, selfless nature and especially her wit, sarcasm and sense of humor. Even going through cancer treatments, she never lost that. She smiled through a lot of painful days.  

Sadie was so close to her mom and dad even prior to all the times they ended up spending together over the past few years because of her illness. Sadie and her mom shared their love for music, dancing and concerts. Her love for the farm she inherited from her dad. They enjoyed a beer while “crop touring” (even had a crop tour, minus the beer, a few weeks ago) and numerous Bronco games together.  Mom might have changed her diapers, but her dad ended up being her #1 caretaker and nurse. He will miss giving her daily forehead kisses.  Bless her heart, battling melanoma cancer since 2023, she spent a lot of time with mom and dad. Sadie made this hard time together fun for all of them and repeatedly expressed her gratefulness.  

It’s hard to believe, but almost a third of her life she was battling cancer. The majority of this time people didn’t even know as she always showed up with a smile, a witty remark and support for others. Her short 33 years of life had so much love; there is no end to bragging about her. She left this world on Aug. 2, 2025, after fighting against cancer and through sharing her suffering with Jesus, she now has no more pain, no more grief over losing Kaylee-Only Joy!

Immediate family proceeding her in death are her niece Kaylee, half-sister Audi, her Grammie Dolores, her Uncle Loren, Uncle Jim, Uncle Kenan, Aunt Libby and her godmother cousin Dana.

Sadie is survived by her parents Ted and Trina Smelker, her sisters Kylie (Tim) Stoecklein, Cassie Smelker, Chelsea (Jamie) Gerstner, her niece, nephews and lots and lots of aunts, uncles and cousins on the Smelker side and Bussen side. (Needless to say, she was everyone’s favorite.)

A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Monday, August 11, 2025 at 10:00 AM at the Cheyenne Wells High School Gymnasium.  Burial followed in the Kit Carson Cemetery, Kit Carson, Colorado.  A Rosary service was held on Sunday, August 10, 2025 at 6:00 PM at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Cheyenne Wells.

Memorial contributions may be made out to the Sadie Smelker Memorial Fund and may be left at the services or mailed to Koons-Russell Funeral Home, 211 N. Main Ave., Goodland, KS 67735.

Online condolences to the family may be left at www.koonsrussellfuneralhome.com.

Services have been entrusted to Koons-Russell Funeral Home in Goodland, KS.