Floyd Donald Smith, “Don” 67, of Winston, Montana joined his friends and family in heaven on Thursday, July 23, 2015.
He was born July 9, 1948 to Floyd and Edith Smith in Townsend, MT. He received his education in Townsend and surrounding areas and attended High school in Helena, MT. After High school Floyd enlisted with the United States Navy to serve his country from 1969-1974. He served aboard the USS ARCTURUS (AF-52) as an engineman and engine mechanic. During his naval career he was based out of Norfolk, Virginia and was awarded the National Defense service medal. He ended his career as an ENFNE3. He thoroughly enjoyed serving his country and navigating the open seas. Upon ending his naval career he moved to Houghton Lake, Michigan and started his career as a professional driver. He then moved back to Helena and pursued different areas of occupations before beginning his career as a professional driver with Mergenthaler Transfer and Storage. (1981-2006) He then was given the opportunity to enhance his driving capabilities with Walmart Transportation, Grantsville, Utah where he enjoyed driving the day light hours of the western United States before retiring in 2009. (2006-2009)
Floyd’s passions in life were accompanied by his family and dogs. He loved to explore the many unknown roads and trails in Montana. Driving down some back country road or bouncing down some unknown two track on his ATV in the woods are what fueled his yearning for the unknown distant before him. He was most at peace exploring these unknown realms. Hunting, camping and fishing were also an integral part of who he was. During his extensive unknown driving destinations he would look for that perfect camping spot or try to figure out where the elusive Elk were hiding.
Hunting was an incredible part of his life. He shared these adventures with his family and friends. The Elkhorn mountain range was one of his favorite hunting destinations. He essentially grew up in this mountain range. Countless weekends were spent at the family cabin where he and his brothers and sisters would explore the extensive reaches the mountain range had to offer. In many instances he could pinpoint a location in the Elkhorn’s by someone just telling him a landmark such as a certain kind of tree rather than looking at a map.
Floyd was united in marriage to Lucy M. Weinrich on July 10, 2006. Don and Lucy met in Dillon, Mt. one sunny summer day while Lucy was out riding her horse on a back street near Dillon. Don stopped by to view the two month old colt that he saw bucking and raring down the street which was following the mare Lucy was riding. A couple of months later he saw her again at the local Dairy Queen and Don asked her if she was the gal with the colt he saw a few months ago. They talked while eating a banana split and she said she lived close by. Don and Lucy visited many times over ice cream that summer of 1985, and that was where it all began.
Don was preceded in death by his parents Floyd and Edith Smith and Sister Marie Benjamin. Don is survived by wife (Lucy) three sons four siblings. Donnie and (Rachael) Smith of Helena, Denny Smith of Michigan and Kadin Weinrich of Helena. Siblings, John and (Trinda) Smith of East Helena, Tom and (Carla) Smith of Elkhorn, Cheryl and (Bob) Smith of Elkhorn and Vicci and (Glen) Stroop of Helena.
A visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 2 p.m. today, July 28, 2015 at Retz Funeral Home, 315 E. 6th Ave, Helena, MT. Family to Receive Friends 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. today, July 28, at Retz Funeral Home. A funeral service will be held at 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, July 29, at Life Covenant Church, 800 N. Hoback St, Helena. A graveside service with full military honors at Forestvale Cemetery will be held immediately following the funeral service. A Potluck Reception will take place immediately following the graveside service at Life Covenant Church, 800 N. Hoback St, Helena.
Service Schedule
Viewing
9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Tuesday July 28, 2015
Retz Funeral Home
315 E. 6th Ave
Helena, Montana
Family Receiving Friends
2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Tuesday July 28, 2015
Retz Funeral Home
315 E. 6th Ave
Helena, Montana
Funeral Service
1:00 p.m.
Wednesday July 29, 2015
Life Covenant Church
800 N. Hoback Street
Helena, Montana
Burial with Military Honors
Immediately following the funeral service
Wednesday July 29, 2015
ForestVale Cemetery
Helena, Montana 59602
Reception
Immediately following the Graveside Burial
Wednesday July 29, 2015
Life Covenant Church
800 N Hoback Street
Helena, Monatna
Service Schedule
Viewing
9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Tuesday July 28, 2015
Retz Funeral Home
315 E. 6th Ave
Helena, Montana
Family Receiving Friends
2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Tuesday July 28, 2015
Retz Funeral Home
315 E. 6th Ave
Helena, Montana
Funeral Service
1:00 p.m.
Wednesday July 29, 2015
Life Covenant Church
800 N. Hoback Street
Helena, Montana
Burial with Military Honors
Immediately following the funeral service
Wednesday July 29, 2015
ForestVale Cemetery
Helena, Montana 59602
Reception
Immediately following the Graveside Burial
Wednesday July 29, 2015
Life Covenant Church
800 N Hoback Street
Helena, Monatna
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Cheryl Smith says
Rest in peace my brother. you are now with mom and dad and you are no longer suffering in this world. you will always be my big brother and I love you so very much. You will always be in my heart and in my thoughts.
Jeanette and Gilles says
We had the good fortune of spending time with Don and Lucy during our many summer vacations in Montana and have many happy memories of picnics, outings and birthdays spent with them and the Weber family. Don was always a gentleman, cheerful and in good humour even when not feeling his best. We are not able to attend the funeral but send our condolences and know he will be missed by many.
bev guerin says
lucy i am writing this for chiboy. he is sorry he won’t make it to the funeral. he has been sick all week. he is sorry for your loss. he knows how much you loved don and he will missed by all who knew him and loved him. love from bev and chiboy
Ken Trinka says
Lucy and Don spent many a fun dinner with us at our home here in Portland. ..Don loved lannys cooking…with a sad heart we say goodbye..and God bless..a great brother . Lucy we love ya…how lucky are we to have such a great family..sorry I can not make it back to Montana..but I’ve sent you lanny..take care. Ken trinka
Tony & Sonya Hansen says
Don, I didn’t have much opportunity to get to know you much over the years, but I do know one thing for sure: you made my cousin happy. Love is a wonderful thing, and I know your home had lots of that. God bless you.
Phyllis Weber Scannell says
I was saddened to hear of Don’s fall some time ago and hoped that somehow he would recover. He was a kind and gentle soul who provided wisdom and words of comfort when my mother died a year ago. I feel honored to have known both Don and Lucy, even if only for a brief time. May he rest in peace and may Lucy find strength and serenity to meet the days ahead.
Lucy says
When I look up into a beautiful blue sky with soft fluffy playful shaped clouds floating by… It takes me back to moments not to long ago where we would be riding the four wheelers
and feeling full of life with big smiles permanently pasted on our faces at what the day brought us … The kids and their friends.. and Don’s buddies and our furry kids had their hearts filled to the brim with fun and laughter enjoying all that surrounded us.. especially Don… He loved everyone, dreamed about those endless roads and trails into the wild that he was driven to explore. I have to smile as I always told him “you better follow that trail and take that road otherwise you’ll always be wondering about where it went” I loved the explorer inside of him. So much that he did for everyone and his love and giving to me and Kadin.. he blessed our hearts., our minds and our souls for forever and ever… I love you Hon.. My Harry Man…or Frank were his nick names which were endearing to him and I.
You were and are always on my mind my baby.. Loving You.. Hon.., Bun, Frazier and Bandit..
Kadin says
Dear Father,
Well, it has been two months since you left me. It has been hard for me to come to terms that I will never get to ask you for advice or have another conversation with you. I miss our conversations that we had, usually about random subjects or more frequently, how should we fix or do this. I miss you saying Good Morning Bun! Those words meant so much to me first thing in the morning, I truly miss them. I miss you saying thanks for all your hard work. When, deep down I knew I haven’t done near as much as you have done for me. I never thanked you enough for what you have done for me. Just about everything I know or do is what you have taught or showed me. You have made me who I am today. I never realized how much I depended on you for advice and guidance.
I haven’t been able to stay busy enough or keep my mind from wandering and thinking of you. I find myself frequently thinking of what you would say to something I saw or had to tell you. More times than not I smile, because I know you would be excited about what I had to tell or show you.
Hunting season is right around the corner. Lately I have been thinking about how you would say we need to go on a drive to try and find out where the Elk are. I miss those drives with you, they really did mean alot to me! If nothing else me you and Mother had good conversations and usually a good meal at some random place at the end of the day. Promptly we would plan and discuss on going back to the area we were just as at to explore some more. Lately, I have been thinking on going for one these drives to look for the Elk by myself. However, I know they will be nowhere near the same with you not being there acting as my navigator. Thank you for showing me all of the unknown spots this world has to offer. Hopefully, I can find some more, and one day be able tell you of the awesome new area I found.
I wish I could spend more time with you. I truly miss the time we spent together. Thank you for being a part of my life.
I Love You
Kadin
Lucy says
My Dearset Hon, Tonight finds me awake as the wind is blowing very hard driving the rain hard against the house. I am thinking of you and I worry that you are ok. It is so cold outside and I just keep you close to my heart. Thanksgiving is not far off. and I don’t know if you think you could pull up a chair and just be beside us in spirit it would help us
Don. Baby Fluff is gone Hon. I just am heart broke, that he was taken too. He loved you so much and I guess you somehow knew he wasn’t well and took him with you. Bandit is sad and looks for You Hon. I love you Hon. Happy Turkey Day. and God Bless You!
L says
My Dearest Don, I think of you always and wonder how you are.
Merry Christmas to You My Baby. I love You Dearly.
Thank you for spending your life with me and being my husband. I would have never known how lonely
and empty life would be.. I miss your voice, your
love that you gave to us, the many roads we traveled down. The miles of riding the four wheelers
down so many paths, trails and roads. The rides we took just to a small quaint town for a nice dinner..
You always thought of us wanting to make our day
special. I just long for You and I don’t know why you
were taken away from us? You were so good Don..
beauty, kindness and love with great devotion and the commitment to us, your family was with a strength of no other’! Oh! Don! I just Love You! and
miss you every day! My eyes runneth over often for You…My baby. I love you Don…with all my heart.
I know you knew that.
Merry Christmas to You Don!
And may this New Year bring Peace to You..
Love from your family. Hon, Bun, Frazier from
above…Hé sure loves you..Hon..and the Bandito
Brother.. You make our hearts smiles Don. Your
So good. Here’s a kiss on your lips and many on
Your face from Frazier and Bandit.. Many hand shakes..white beautiful silky paws…. which you always told Frazier that he had and he loved you
telling him that. Along with many big hugs and kisses between you and the babies and Frazier
who loved to talk. Oh! how I so miss You and Frazier! Love to Hon. from Bun ..who thinks of you
and misses you every day..
L says
Well Hon..It’s been awhile since I’ve written..I have been truly heart broken over losing you and also Baby fluff. He died just a month before you and on the same day, the 23rd. It makes me so sad as the house is empty and nobody to come home to now. Bandit is here but a very quiet dog since you are no longer with him. He loves you very much. I miss our rides together and eating out. I don’t know how to take a ride alone it seems strange. I’m not good at driving the mountain roads as I am afraid..yes, still am.. Thanksgiving is soon. We have quiet dinners. There’s no barking since Fluff is gone and no laughter with you and the dogs playing in the morning. I miss our lives together Don. I am so thankful that I met you so long ago..but the years went by so quickly… Happy Thanksgiving to You Hon..I love you Dearly… Gobble gobble as you would say…
l says
Hello Hon, Thinking of You tonight. I just wanted to say, I Love You.. It has been a cold, windy winter and I can’t wait til spring time because You will have a beautiful bench and a marker from the VA..summer is so beautiful and I will plant many flowers for You Hon… God loves you, Jesus Loves You..and so do We.. Love to you Hon, my Baby..
L says
Hi Hon, What a beautiful bench you have. I enjoy sitting there with you and visiting. I think you would like it. Your Veteran’s monument is very lovely. I sure do miss your voice and everything about you.. I love you Don. Bandito says hi to you..He knows where you are as he whines and barks when we come to see you. Love to you Hon..
L says
Hi Hon..It was a long summer. I had a spine surgery that was very painful. I spent alot of time sitting on your bench visiting with you…Christmas is nearing and I miss our shopping trips to Great Falls where we dined at the Golden Corral..and enjoyed the day finding gifts for everyone. Our hearts are filled with the memories of all of the many Christmas’s we shared together with you. I look around and I can hear your voice but you are not there. I can remember you saying” We’ve been together for almost ten years Hon”. Now I think of how many years that you have been gone. On these last few days before Christmas I will keep my heart over filled with the memories shared with you…God Bless you Hon..Loving you..Hon, Bandit
L says
Dearest Don.. The years have gone by quickly since you’ve been gone. I don’t think that you’d be happy with the current world that we live in right now. Christmas was nice but very quiet. It comes and goes so fast anymore. I get nervous about my life moving by so quickly.. I have a new dog now. He’s a bit rowdy and has alot of energy! But he’s a good dog I think. I love you and think of you always Merry Christmas to You and Happy New Year!!.. I Love you Hon, Love Hun n Bun..