Noel A Smith

Noel A. Smith died on Wednesday, January 8, 2020 at Johnson Memorial Care Center at the age of 94.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, January 14, 2020 at 1:30 PM at Anderson-TeBeest Funeral Home in Montevideo.

Visitation with the family will be held on Monday, January 13, 2020 from 5-7 PM at Anderson-TeBeest Funeral Home in Montevideo and will continue for one hour prior to the service on Tuesday.

Noel Allen Smith, “Snuffy”, was born August 27, 1925 in Long Lane, Missouri, to Mildred Smith. At the age of 4, Noel developed Polio, however he never let this define him. He spent his childhood with his Uncle Neil, tearing up Dallas County, Missouri – What one of the boys did not think of, the other one did. As Noel grew up, he moved around to various parts of the county. He loved to tinker on anything and everything. It started with small things, evolved into cars, through which he found his true calling, trucks. He started driving truck at the age of 16, for Bill Richardson, who he would continue to work for and be close friends with for many years. In time, he moved to Kansas City, MO where he met his first wife, Hazel. They later moved to Billings, MT where their 3 children were raised. Years later, he moved to Pasco, Washington to be around his mom, where he took a break from trucking, and worked in her drapery shop. Eventually he returned to his passion, trucking. He hauled grain and lumber, and though he traveled all over, he was especially partial the Midwest to West run. He loved Montana, but would end up calling Montevideo, MN his home. It was here that he met Karen, whom he would marry, settle down with, and raise their child, Noel J. He continued working over the road and when Noel J. was old enough, they trucked together. They spent a lot of time with one another and formed a special bond. Noel retired from the road when he was 79. Upon retirement, however, he continued to manage the trucking company, as it had become a family business. He was a grade A supervisor, mentor and PaPa. He shared a very special and tightly knit bond with grandchildren KayCee, Lane and Josephine. He loved to teach everyone what he knew, whether it be driving truck, mechanicing, or just general life lessons. His life motto was, “if you don’t have time to stop for a coffee and cookie break, you are doing something wrong.” He enjoyed fishing, camping, picture taking, western movies, but most of all playing checkers, a game in which he would occasionally let you win. He was quite a jokester and storyteller, which he spent most of his time doing, and had a story for everyone and everything. He spent his life the way he wanted, doing what he wanted.

He is survived by: Sharon Forsch and family – Billings, MT,  Lloyd Smith and family – Billings, MT, Michelle Smith and family – Billings, MT, and Noel and Amanda Smith – Montevideo, MN;  KayCee Smith (Anthony Petruk), Lane Smith & Josephine Smith; lifelong friend – Mick Richardson; cousin – Jim & Karen Smith and family – Pasco, WA; and many other cousins, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Preceded in death by his mother, Mildred Smith; uncle, Neil Smith; lifetime friend, Bill Richardson and several other relatives.