Florence L. Smith

HAMILTON- Florence L. Smith 87, of Hamilton passed away, July 5, 2009, at the Discovery Care Centre. She was born March 4, 1922, in Raub, North Dakota, the daughter of DeWitt and Jenny Van Horne. Her father died when she was 12 and her family moved to Plentywood, MT. She lived with her sister, Mary, while she attended Montana State University in Missoula, for two years. She met and married James P. Smith on August, 17, 1941. Jim, a reserve officer, was called to active duty and the two of them moved a lot the next two years. They had their first daughter in January, 1942. When Jim was deployed to Europe, Florence and Sharon moved to Oakland, CA, to await the birth of daughter #2. After Jim returned he worked for the Yuba Co. until they left the US for South America, so the family, now with daughter #3, returned to Missoula where Jim was involved with construction, and then mining. The family always went with him and Florence cooked for the miners. Several more children were added to the family. While living at the mine, Florence home schooled her three oldest children.

The family moved back to Missoula and Florence went to work selling advertising for KYQT. When Jim went to work for Clark and Groff Construction the family moved to Salem, OR. She returned to school and finished her teacher's degree. She taught one year at Silverton Public Schools and then followed Jim to Anchorage, AK, where he worked on installing sewer and water systems in outlying villages until his death on January 15, 1975. She taught at Clark Junior High from 1969 until 1985, earning her masters in 1974. She was past president and women of the year for the Arctic Nugget Chapter of American Business Women's Association. She was the Social Studies Department Head and also on the Curriculum committee. She also started the Career Ed program at Clark and put more than 300 9th grade students to work in the community for credit and on the job training. She was a dedicated teacher and mentor to the students and her fellow teachers. On retirement in 1985, she moved to Sitka, AK, where she became very involved with volunteering at the Sheldon Jackson Museum. She also finished researching the background of a friend of hers, Marie Johnson, and she and third daughter, Bonnie, wrote and after she moved to Hamilton, published Marie's story, "A CUP OF TEARS". She was a master gardener and had a garden where ever she lived.

She lived in 10 states, and always loved to travel going to Russia, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, England, Scotland, Australia, and New Zealand. She moved again to Sapphire Lutheran Homes in Hamilton, November, 1998. She loved living in Sapphire and still traveled to visit friends and family until the last few years.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Jim, her brother and sister in-law, Clarence and Vera Van Horne, Sister and brother-in-law, Mary and Stewart McNamara, Son-in-law, Marvin Gillispie, Mother-in-law and Father-in-law, Magdalene and Norman Smith, Sister-in-law and Brother-in-law, Lucy and Lucian Croonenberghs, Sister-in law Peggy Martin, and Brother-in-law John Smith.

She is survived by her 8 children: Sharon Gillispie, Terry (Jerry) Hinman, Bonnie (Jerry) Worley, Randy (Paulette) Smith, Larry (Shelia) Smith, Debbie (Leonard) Urick, Kelly (Dawn) Smith, and Tammy (Pete) Scott, 24 grandchildren, 23 great grandchildren, 4 great grandchildren, Sister-in-law Gisela Smith, Brother-in-law Bob Martin, and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family suggests that any memorials be made to the Sapphire Lutheran Home, 501 N 10th, Hamilton, MT 59840