Leo Smith

Leo Franklin Smith, 69, of Columbia Falls, died Nov. 9, 2006, at Colonial Manor in Whitefish from ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease).

Leo was born April 22, 1937, to Frank and Helen Smith in Halfmoon, where he was raised and educated. In 1958, he married Betty Lou Chapman, of Columbia Falls, where the couple lived and raised their family until illness made it necessary for them to be cared for at the Colonial Manor.

In his early years, Leo worked for the Great Northern Railroad and Stoltz Lumber Co. as head sawyer. In 1962, he was hired by Anaconda Aluminum Co. as a laborer, where he worked until retiring in 1997 as superintendent of casting.

Leo enjoyed camping, fishing, hiking, picking huckleberries, playing cards, sitting on the deck watching humming birds, tinkering in his garage, watching sports and doing yard work.

Leo was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Helen; mother and father-in-law Lyle and Goldie Chapman; brother Robert Smith and wife Barbara; brother-in-law Richard Lindsley; and a nephew, Michael Smith.

Leo is survived by his wife, Betty Smith, of Whitefish; daughter Sherry Burchett and husband Gary, of Kalispell; daughter Tami Smith, of Whitefish; son Terry Smith and wife Taryn, of Columbia Falls; son Tony Smith and wife Dorothy, of Rapid City, S.D.; brother William and wife Linda, of McGregor Lake; sister-in-law Laverne Lindsley, of Whitefish; and cousin Doris Hanson, of Whitefish.

Leo is also survived by granddaughters Laci Smith, Brianna Bukoskey and Betsy Bukoskey, all of Kalispell, and Jordan Smith and Sydney Smith, of Rapid City, S.D.; grandsons Levi Smith and wife Karen, of Helena, Jayme Bukoskey, of Kalispell, and Trevor Smith, Mathew Plooster and Jason Plooster, of Rapid City, S.D.; great grandson Braden Winterburn-Smith, of Helena; and many beloved nieces and nephews.

A funeral service was held Nov. 14, 2006, at the Columbia Mortuary in Columbia Falls, with Rev. David Merkel officiating. Burial followed at Woodlawn Cemetery in Columbia Falls.

The family has requested that memorial contributions be made in Leo's name to Home Options Hospice, 175 Commons Loop, Suite 100, Kalispell MT 59901