Ronald Ronnie Smith

Visitation: Sunday, August 13, 2006 4-7 p.m. with prayer service at 7 p.m.

Funeral Service: Monday, August 14, 2006 10 a.m. Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel in Wolf Point.

Interment: Greenwood Cemetery

Ronald V. Ronnie Smith, age 64, of Wolf Point, passed away August 9, 2006 at Trinity Hospital after a short battle with cancer.

Ronnie was born in Wolf Point at the Steele Hospital (where Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel now occupies) on July 16, 1942, to Wilfred and Winona (Marie) Smith. He attended schools in Poplar and Wolf Point, graduating from Wolf Point High School in 1960. Ronnie excelled in athletics, playing on many championship teams for the Wolves. He joined the Navy in 1960 and was stationed on the U.S.S. Midway, being honorably discharged in 1963. Ronnie married Gemma Crowley on June 6, 1964 in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. He was united in marriage to Joyce Balder Knudson on November 18, 1986, in Rapid City, South Dakota.

Ronnie farmed and ranched in the Wolf Point area for many years, he was also the owner of Choctaw Trucking where he hauled mostly crude oil and water. His community involvement included serving as a Fort Peck Tribal Gaming Commissioner, an Airport Golf Club Board Member, a member of the Wolf Point Masonic Lodge and a present member of the Fort Peck Community College Board of Directors. Ronnie, an Elks member and former officer, was instrumental in organizing the Elks Picnic that used to be held at the Bridge Park annually. Ronnie enjoyed golfing (goofing?), his annual hunting trips with friends, staying at the best hotels, wining and dining, reading, talking politics, taking in sporting events, attending the Wild Horse Stampede, watching old Western movies, playing whist and cruising around town with his wife and their dog Pipa. He was an avid whist player and enjoyed being on a winning team with Grandma Marie. Forever the perfectionist, not many outside opinions swayed his way of thinking. Ronnie was a very generous man with a big heart who especially enjoyed being with family and friends.

Ronnie is survived by his loving wife, Joyce of Wolf Point; three sons, Craig (Leanne), Douglas and Daniel Smith, all of Wolf Point; one daughter, Cheryl (Craig) Miller of Bremerton, Washington; a step-son, Chad (Juanita) Knudson of Aviano, Italy; three step-daughters, Alanne (Kelly) Ryan of Wolf Point, Krista (James) Wasson of Coeur d Alene, Idaho, and Jennifer (Sami) Mohamed of Chico, California;; a sister, Jeri (Dewayne) Jensen of Wolf Point; a brother, Bill Smith of Wolf Point; 19 grandchildren and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

Ronnie was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Wilfred (Chaskay) Smith, Jr.

Visitation is from 4 to 7 p.m. on Sunday, August 13, with a prayer service at 7 p.m. at Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel in Wolf Point. Funeral services will be held n Monday, August 14, 2006 at 10 a.m. at Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel in Wolf Point. Interment will be held at Greenwood Cemetery.