Robert H. Smith, Sr.
"Bubba"
Today is the saddest day of our life, today is the day we write about our father’s life. Our father, grandfather, great-grandfather and husband passed away peacefully on March 20, 2011 in Billings, Montana at the age of 79, with his family at his side.
Robert H. Smith Sr., Bob, Big Bob, Bubba was born on October 8, 1931 at the family home in St. Paul, Minnesota, the youngest of 4 children and the only son of Guy P. and Gertrude E. Smith.
Bob attended school in Minnesota and graduated from Marshall High School in 1949. Following graduation Bob enlisted in the army and was stationed in London for two years. After returning from the service, he attended St. Thomas College where he played football.
On July 9, 1955 Bob married his best friend and the love of his life, LaVerne D. Hopfner at the Cathedral of St. Paul in St. Paul, MN. From this union of marriage there were four children born; Carol, Robert Jr., Sharon and Scott.
With no reservations Bob moved his family to Montana. In 1959 he transferred to Billings with Fidility Finance Co. and after a short period of time he joined Lew Chevrolet. In 1965 he went to work for Wayne Clark of Clark Lincoln Mercury as the sales manager. Wayne died in 1971 and Bob bought Clark Lincoln Mercury from his wife Shirley and renamed it Bob Smith Lincoln Mercury. Within the next few years, Bob had a new facility built and added other franchises and had created it into a successful family business. There are still people to this day that would only buy a car from Bob.
Over the years, Bob became involved with the 20 group and the advertising council for Lincoln Mercury which he served as president for many years, as well as serving on the board of Automobile Dealers Association in Detroit.
Bob lived his life for his family, church and golf. His religion was very important to him. He was a member of St. Thomas the Apostle Church and the Holy Name Society.
Bob’s love for the game of golf goes without saying. He was an excellent golfer and fortunate enough to play with the best golfers in the world including Jack Nicholas. Bob also played in the best tournaments including the PGA Pebble Beach Pro Am.
For the past fifteen years he and Laverne was able to spend the winters in Arizona where he proudly displayed his five “Hole In One” plaques. This was an accomplishment that we were all proud of.
Bob was probably one of the most generous people you will ever meet. He never hesitated to help anyone in need. He was involved with the Easter Seals for many years, as well as the American Heart Association. He was a member of the 3rd and 4th Degree of the Knights of Columbus, American Legion, past president of the Billings Exchange Club, past president of the Yellowstone Country Club, and was also a member at the Hilands Country Club and Arizona Country Club. Bob was also involved in various activities at Billings Central Catholic High School.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Guy and Gertrude Smith; his three sisters and their husbands, Patricia and Marvin Flaherty, Mary and Jack Lynch and Kate and Elmer Holzgen; his in-laws, Leo and Clara Hopfner; and his brothers-in-law Frank McDonough and Ralph Roers.
He is survived by his loving devoted wife of 55 years, LaVerne; daughters Carol (Tom) Walund of Butte, Sharon (Tim) Beeter of Billings; sons Robert (Gayle) Smith, Jr. and Scott (Marcie) Smith, all of Billings; 10 grandchildren, Ryan (Kelly) Graves, Sean Graves, Robbie (Julie) Smith, Amanda Smith, Ashley Smith, Kara (Thor) Olson, Chris Beeter, Dane Smith, Alicia Smith and Landon Smith; 4 great-grandchildren, Emma Graves, Dayton and Dawson Smith, and Harley Hartse; as well as his faithful dog Peppi.
Dad was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather and friend to many. Where ever he went everyone knew him and loved him. He will be missed dearly.
A Vigil Service will be held at 7:00 p.m., Thursday, March 24, 2011 at St. Thomas the Apostle Church. Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 P.M., Friday, also at St. Thomas Church. Rite of Committal will follow at Yellowstone Valley Memorial Park with military honors provided by the American Legion and the United States Army National Guard.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 3010 11th Ave. N, Billings, MT 59101; the Shriner’s Children’s Hospital (to help with care and treatment for Spina Bifida) by visiting www.shrinershospitalforchildren.org; or to the charity of one’s choice.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to Edgewood Vista, St. Vincent Healthcare Oncology Unit and Rocky Mountain Hospice for their loving care given to Bob in his last days.
He died as he lived, everyone’s friend. He was always thoughtful, loving and kind. His smile we will always remember, his voice we will always recall, his generosity we will never forget. His memory will be in our hearts forever. We will miss you, and we love you very much.
Remembrances
Please leave your name and remembrance in this public guest book. Your comments will be shared on this page and forwarded to the family.
Scott, I am so sorry to hear of the passing of
your father. He was an icon in the community and will be greatly missed.
My prayers go out to you and your family at this sad time. God Bless
Leanne Cooke (Beatty)
My husband and I would like to extend our
deepest condolences to you and your family during this time of loss.
I am a loyal customer of Bob Smith Motors because of the outstanding
service and friendliness of the staff there. I can only surmise that
this level of care and concern for the customer is an extension of
its ownership.
Sincerely,
Jim and Robin Stauffer
Hi!
I am Dorman Hurick's daughter and I live in St Paul, MN but have
known Bob for many years. I am writing to express my condolences on
your lost. Bob was a great guy and a great friend to my dad. My
thoughts and prayers are with you at this time. Sincerely. Kim
Willis
To Scott and Family:
Our hearts go out to you in hearing of the passing of your beloved
father, husband, and grandfather. Big Bob Smith the "sign of the
cat." Your dad's presence was huge in our community, but also etched
in my thirty-five year plus memory of knowing the Smith family.
One of my most vivid memories was the arrival of the Smith's family
motor home into Lewistown, Montana for a weekend of drag racing for
which my brother, Brad, was involved in for many years. Bob Smith
came into the Yo Go Inn with a big laugh and a big cigar and bought
our whole drag racing group breakfast. That led to many years of not
only friendship, but also Brad's Lincoln Continental buying with the
Smith family. The kind of honest, community spirit that your dad
displayed his whole life and passed on to his family.
We were all so fortunate to have had such a nice person living in
Billings.
Your Forever Friend,
Lolly Fredericksen Hummel and Family
To the Smith family
Sorry for your huge loss. Bubba was a big man with even a bigger
heart. I was lucky enough to play a fair amount of golf with him and
every round left me with a thought that I would chuckle about a week
later or reinforce my opinion of him as such a generous, always
opinionated, all around man's man that truly took as much
satisfaction in other's success as he did in his own. He will be
missed but take comfort in all the memories and stories you and
friends will share forever.
Bill Rector
ALL the best to all of the Smith families----. We miss you all. Kirk and Barb Maxwell
To Laverne and Family,
Our hearts cry for you in the loss of your beloved husband and
father. Big Bob was a great guy, a wonderful friend, and a great
neighbor. When you have to say goodbye to someone you shared your
life with, someone so close to your heart, there's not even a way to
put into words the love you had for them. You are walking in our
shoes, and we want you all to know that you are in our thoughts and
prayers. May all the memories you shared as a family bring you
comfort at this time.
With sympathy and love,
Jane, Cindy, Mitch, and Dick Jr. McClintock
To the Smith Family:
We were so sorry to hear of Bob’s passing. We thought a lot of him.
He was a wonderful man.
Mark, Tamie, and Cody Hooper
My first memory of Uncle Bob was when he picked me and one of my siblings up and set us on the hood of his car. Our Uncle Frank McDonough was there also, and they had a long conversation before lowering us to the ground. I thought they were “giants”. I shall forever think of Uncle Bob as a big man with a big heart, a big voice, who loved God and his church, who took such good care of his wife and family, and loved life. May he rest in peace. Karen Roers Casabonne