Obituary - Ross L. "Jack" Smith

Ross L. "Jack" Smith, 78, of Geraldine passed away Sunday, Nov. 9, 2014, in Fort Benton.

A memorial service will be held Friday, Nov. 14, 2014, at 1 p.m. at the Geraldine United Methodist Church.

Arrangements have been entrusted to O'Connor Funeral Home.

Jack was born on Jan. 12, 1936, to William Alfred and Ida Amy Durst Smith in Bridge Creek Township, Wisconsin.  

He grew up on a small farm near Augusta, Wisconsin.

He married Shirley N. Warner on June 5, 1954, in Wabasha, Minnesota.

In 1958, Jack and Shirley and their two daughters moved from Wisconsin to Havre, Montana. The family grew with the addition of a boy and a girl. Jack worked in the dairy business and ranching throughout his life, completing his career at the Meissner ranch in Square Butte.

While at the Square Butte ranch, Jack became a deputy brand inspector and served in that capacity until 2010. He retired from ranch work in 1999.

He was a true cowboy and loved the land, livestock and especially his family. Jack and Shirley moved to Geraldine after retiring from ranching.

Jack served on the Town Council of Geraldine and then as mayor from 2009 until he resigned due to failing health in 2013. In addition to being a very hands-on mayor and involved in many city projects, Jack was active in the Geraldine Senior Citizens and was honored as senior of the year in 2009. He attended the Community Methodist Church and served on the administrative board and the board of trustees.

Jack is survived by Shirley, his wife of 60 years; daughters, Nita Grendal of Topeka, Kansas, Melodie Karlson of Copenhagen, Denmark, and Sherri (James) Diemert of Helena, Montana; son, J. Ben (Kathy) Smith of Great Falls; grandchildren, Jeff (Janell) Zeiler of Kansas, Safra (Mikkel) Martinussen of Denmark, Lindsay (Josh) Sykes of Pennsylvania, Tyler (Kelly) Smith of New York, Josh Herman of Rudyard, Trace Herman of Sidney, Carly (Samuel) Lilley of Arizona, and Joelle Herman of Helena; step-grandchildren, Lauren (Jon) Midkiff, Lindsay (Tony) Musselwhite and Jordan Diemert, all of Washington; eight great-grandchildren and four step-great-grandchildren. He is also survived by grandchildren of the heart: Colton and Jordan Swanson and Makae, Coya, Cassie and Kylynn Nack.

Jack was preceded in death by his parents, his siblings, six brothers and two sisters; and an infant son, Jon Benton Smith.

Memorial donations are suggested to the Geraldine Senior Center or the Geraldine United Methodist Church.