Susan P. Smaus

Hamilton - Susan P. Smaus, 77, passed from this life at her home surrounded by her loving family on Friday, July 22, 2011 after a lengthy battle with Alzheimer's Disease.
She was born on May 21, 1934 in Butte, to John Henry and Francis Mudek Price. The family moved to Hamilton in 1943 and Susan spent the rest of her school years here. She had an older brother, William, who was killed in an automobile accident returning home to visit while on leave from the Air Force in 1953. Upon graduation from Hamilton High School, she began her career at the Rocky Mountain Laboratory in 1952, working and making lifelong friends with a number of the lab's doctors and staff.
In August of 1954, she married Robert W. (Bill) Smaus, also of Hamilton. They were graced with five children, Robert Jr., John, Kathy, Carole and Karen.
In 1958, Bill re-entered the military, joining the U.S. Army (USAF 1951-54). Over the course of those years the family was posted to numerous bases in Europe, Asia and from coast to coast and border to border in the USA. Moving nearly every year was hard, but she took it all in stride and made the most of it. Susan not only worked and raised a family, but also found time to volunteer or serve in an official capacity on many Military Wives, fraternal organizations, and bowling groups. At Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, she spent three years attached to the Army, Navy/Marines, Air Force Joint Tactical Communications Group (TriTac).
Susan, Bill and the kids were very active in bowling leagues and rod and gun clubs, playing cards, camping and other outdoor activities. Susan also dabbled at making wine for awhile and was very well known for her needlework, gardening, crafting and baking. She truly enjoyed her grandchildren and the many beloved dogs the family raised, and was also active in later years with the American Legion Auxiliary.
Upon Bill's retirement in 1976, the family returned to Hamilton for good. Susan returned to Rocky Mountain Labs and enjoyed her work there until her retirement in 1997 after 32 years of service.
She was preceded in death by her parents, brother William, and husband Bill in 1999. She is survived by her children Robert Jr.(Butch), John Smaus and Carol Barnes, Carole Smaus, Kathy and Ken Fields, granddaughters Kenley and Kayla, Karen Anderson and grandsons Kris and Kyle, and her best friend of many years Patsy Golay, all of Hamilton and/or Corvallis.
Cremation has taken place under the direction of Daly-Leach Chapel and Crematory. Private family internment will take place next to her husband at Riverview Cemetery in Hamilton. A reception celebrating her life will take place at the Daly-Leach facility on Thursday, July 28, at 6 PM. The family looks forward to sharing time with her many friends and former co-workers.
The family suggests that memorials be made in her name to the Marcus Daly Hospice Endowment Fund, 1200 Westwood Dr., Hamilton, MT 59840.