Robert S. Smith
Oct. 30, 1937-Oct. 19, 2017
Robert S. Smith, 79,
Bismarck, died on Oc-
tober 19, 2017 at a
Bismarck Hospital. Visita-
tion will be from 6:00 –
8:00 p.m. Tuesday, Oc-
tober 24, 2017 at the
Bismarck Funeral Home
with a memorial service at
7 p.m. There will also be a
memorial service at 11
a.m. Thursday, October
26, 2017 at Bethany Luth-
eran Church in Minot
N.D.
Robert “Bob” Smith was
born on October 30, 1937,
to Foster and Florence
(Smith) Smith in Duluth,
MN. Bob’s family moved
to Minot, ND in 1948
where he attended Model
School and Minot High
School. On July 6, 1957
Bob married his High
School sweetheart, Shir-
ley Ofsthun. The couple
remained in Minot where
they raised their daughter,
Pam.
Throughout his years in
Minot, Bob worked in the
construction trade.
Despite this hard work, he
found energy to pursue
his hobbies. He was active
in the Nodak Race Club as
a driver and pit man. He
was an avid snowmobiler
who was active in clubs
and races. In 1993, Bob
was able to turn his pas-
sion for snowmobiling
into a career by moving to
Bismarck to work as the
North Dakota Trail Coor-
dinator. He organized the
development and mainte-
nance of the State’s
snowmobile trails until
his retirement in 1999.
His dedication and
enthusiasm earned recog-
nition. He was presented
an award for outstanding
service award by the
International Association
of Snowmobile Adminis-
trators. In 2015 he was in-
ducted into the ND
Snowmobile Hall of Fame.
Bob never really retired as
he worked managing an
apartment complex and
working for VCZ Mobile
Park. Up until August he
was working at Kirkwood
Ace Hardware.
Bob enjoyed spending
time at the family cabin at
Rice Lake where all were
welcome and a goodtime
was had by all. Time with
Grandkids and
great-grand kids, who af-
fectionately called him
Grumpy, was always im-
portant to him.
He is survived by: his
wife of 60 years, Shirley,
daughter Pam (Tom) Leo-
nard; grandchildren Min-
dy Weisse (Justin Wright)
and Don Leonard;
great-grandchildren Pay-
ton, Kailyn, Jahnilyn, Eli-
jah, Adley and Aubryn all
of Minot.
He is preceded in death
by: his parents and his
niece, Kandace Miller.