Gary Smithberg

Noonan

Gary Maurice Smithberg, 68, Noonan passed away at Trinity Health Care, Minot, March 22, 2024.

Funeral services for Gary will be 11 a.m., Monday April 1, 2024 at Faith Lutheran Church, Columbus

Gary was born in Crosby, January 2, 1956. He was the son of Donald and H. Maxine Smithberg of Noonan. He spent most of his life in Noonan. He lived for a short time in Wahpeton while he attended NDSCS. He earned a degree in plumbing and diesel mechanics while there.

During his working career he was bank manager for Farmers State Bank, Noonan when they had a branch there. He enjoyed the day to day visiting with local residents. But mostly, Gary was a farmer, it was in his blood. He loved being on the farm. Even after he bought his house in Williston, when the weather was nice, he loved coming up to the farm to drive his skid steer and more recently the New Holland tractor he just had to have. He spent a lot of time shopping on the internet and looking for skid steer attachments and machinery in general. Just last week he was looking for a 10′ snow pusher for his skid steer.

While all those things were important, kids, especially his nephews and nieces held a dear spot for him. Many things he bought were to share with them. Years ago, he bought a pontoon with a slide that he took to Boundary Dam or the Trout Pond with them or some of the neighborhood kids aboard. He always had fireworks to put on a big display.

If at the Threshing Bee they knew they could go to Gary and he would buy them treats. He took them hunting and shot his 50 caliber with them, roasted marshmallows and went ice fishing. And each Halloween he bought lots of bags of candy. Each little one, or big one, who came to visit left with a big unopened bag of mini KitKats or Snickers, two of his favorites.

A more recent highlight for Gary was his two month long trip with friends, to Alaska in 2019, after the farm auction. Since he never did anything small, he bought a 42′ motorhome with slides for the journey. Driving leisurely through Canada, spending time in Valdez, Homer, and Seward, and going on a chartered fishing trip were some highlights. He recalled his favorite part being a glacier camping trip. Sometimes when there was a day or two of rest, he would put on a movie, make popcorn, and invite the rest of the crew over for movie night. Because of this, his motorhome ended up being called the community center, which got a chuckle from him.

Gary was private in his faith, but his life lived was a testament to his trust in his Savior. He kept an extremely positive attitude during the last three complicated years of dialysis, even through the last hours of his life. He was a good man.

Gary is survived by brothers, Ron (Sharon), Fargo and Jim (Karen), Noonan; sister-in law, Kim, Crosby; cousin Perry (Val); nephews and nieces, (Ron) Lissa; Tara, and Amber (Jim) Tony (Bobbie), Sarah (Shane) and Jacob (Naomi); (Kim), Brandon (Brittany), Brittany (Brad), Brenna (Nate) and Bria; and many other cousins, grand and great grand nephews and nieces.

He was preceded in death by parents, Don and Maxine; sister, Tammy, and brother Craig.

Stakston-Martin Funeral Home, Crosby has charge of arrangements: post remembrances, send cards and flowers online at www.smfhcrosby.com

Published by The Minot Daily News, April 2, 2024.