Bob Smestad

and longtime Velva area

farmer, died Wednesday,

April 25, 2018, at his

home in Minot.

Marlin ‘Bob’ Smestad

was born January 10, 1931

in Velva, ND to Elsie

Kraus. He was raised on

the farm by his beloved

Uncle Nels, and Edna

Solheim. He graduated

from Velva High School

in 1949.

Bob was united in mar-

riage to Leona Morris on

June 2, 1952 in Britton,

South Dakota. They made

their home on the farm lo-

cated 6 miles north of Vel-

va and were blessed with

four daughters. Bob and

Leona farmed for many

years raising small grains

and livestock on North

Prairie. After 50 years of

farming they moved to

Minot in 2001. They be-

came residents of Edge-

wood Vista July 2017.

Bob was a member of

Christ Lutheran Church,

Minot and a former

member of Oak Valley

Lutheran Church in

Velva. He was an active

volunteer in both congre-

gations logging many

hours making potato klub

in preparation for the

Norsk Hostfest in addition

to serving the festival as a

manager of Stockholm

Hall for a number of

years. He served on the

Velva School Board,

maintained memberships

to the Sons of Norway,

Masonic Lodge and the

Minot Golden K Kiwanis,

where he was a past

president. Bob also volun-

teered at Trinity Hospital

for many years.

Bob enjoyed life and

cherished the simple mo-

ments he spent teaching

his children and

grandchildren how to

drive, enjoy the outdoors,

fishing, hunting or just

listening to their adven-

tures. He will be dearly

missed by all who were

blessed to share in his

life.

Bob is survived by his

loving wife of 65 years,

Leona, Minot; daughters,

Lynette Sevilla, Morgan

Hill, CA, Kerry (Jay)

Clark, and Marla (Brad)

Bohan, both of Minot;

grandchildren, Justin

(Laura) Bohan, Katelyn

Bohan, Megan (Dan Fal-

coner) Hibbs, Kyle (An-

nie) Hibbs, Daniel Clark,

great-grandchildren, twins

Audrey and Claire Bohan

and Theodore Falconer.

Also surviving is a brother

Lyle (Liz) Hendrickson

along with numerous

nieces and nephews.

Bob was preceded in

death by his mother, El-

sie, Nels and Edna

Solheim, daughter, San-

dra Smestad and siblings,

Harvey Hendrickson,

Connie Hendrickson and

Marlys Libke.

Celebration of Bob’s

Life: 2:00 p.m. Tuesday,

May 1, 2018 at Christ

Lutheran Church, Minot.

Interment: Sunset

Memorial Gardens, Minot,

ND

Visitation: Monday,

April 30, 2018 from 3:00

p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at the

Thomas Family Funeral

Home, Minot.

In lieu of flowers and

plants memorials are pre-

ferred to the Shriners

Children’s Hospital,

Souris Valley Care Center

of Velva or to an organiza-tion of the donor’s choice.

Those wishing to sign

the online memorial regis-

ter or share memories are

invited to use the expres-

sions of sympathy section

at www.thomasfamily

funeral home.com.