William Ricketts Smith

"Bill" was the oldest child of Maurice Warfield Smith and Ruby Valentine Fox, born 5 November 1918 in Gillette, Campbell, Wyoming. The family later moved to Lodge Grass, Montana, where Maurice and Ruby raised their boys.

Bill was a funny, intelligent man, just hilarious to be around. A staunch member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Republican Party and the National Rifle Association, his political stance was well known among his family members due to his habit of making snarky comments at the TV when the news was on. He could make anything out of anything - he once took an old broom handle and fashioned a gear shift for a friend's car - and everything he made worked. A wonderful cook, prolific genealogist, talented musician, experienced flower and vegetable gardener, cat lover, Depression survivor who saved and reused whatever he could, veteran of World War II - his sometimes gruff demeanor covered a big, compassionate heart. His family dearly, dearly loved this man and misses him very much.

His life story can be found here. He married a lovely girl and they had two sons and many grandchildren.

Bill passed away in Eagle, Ada, Idaho, and was buried in Willamette National Cemetery in Portland, Multnomah, Oregon.