No headline

Claudia Smith Dakin

Heaven has gained another angel, Claudia Smith Dakin, born Jan. 6, 1953, in Libby. The second child of Edward and Donna (Teigen) Smith passed away at her home in Columbia Falls on June 2, 2017 with her husband and life mate Bob at her side.

“We are all travelers in this world.

From the sweet grass to the packing house

Birth to death

We travel between the eternities.”

— Broken Trails

Claudia graduated from Columbia Falls High School and spent the first part of her life working among the people she grew up with. Her warm and loving personality enabled her to make friends anywhere she was.

She was blessed with two sons, Tommy “T” Kemppainen and Shawn Weber, who were the loves of her life.

When she met her husband Bob they spent many happy years traveling and campground hosting. During this time they met their lifelong friends Andy and Kathy, along with many other friends in Custer, South Dakota, where they called home for many summers. Some of Claudia’s fondest memories were spent traveling with her husband to the Oregon Coast, Mount Rushmore and the Black Hills, and South Dakota where they were married at the Wheels West.

Claudia is survived by her husband Bob Dakin of Columbia Falls; sons Tom (Ashley) Kemppainen of Columbia Falls and Shawn Weber of Bozeman; grandchildren Kierra and Easton Kemppainen; her siblings Linda (Bill) Hand of Idaho, Rick (Renae) Smith of Columbia Falls, and Roxanne Smith of Columbia Falls; and numerous nieces, nephews and extended family. Claudia was preceded in death by her parents, Edward and Donna Smith.

The family would like to thank everyone for their well wishes and prayers.