Sue Sparrow Smith

RONAN — On June 16, 2006, Sue Sparrow Smith died from complications of pneumonia at Community Hospital in Missoula.

She was born on Oct. 8, 1943, at Murray Hospital in Butte. She was raised on the family ranch in the Big Hole Valley, 17 miles from Wisdom. She attended school in the one-room Bower School near the ranch, the Bagley School in Dillon and graduated from Beaverhead County High School in 1961.

In 1965, she graduated from Jamestown College with a B.S. in nursing and returned to Dillon to work at the Barrett Hospital as a registered nurse. It was there that she met James E. Smith, who was attending Western Montana College, and married him on June 21, 1969.

They moved to Ronan and raised their five children on a farm west of Ronan.

She thrived on raising her children and spoiling her grandchildren.

She was active in Lake County 4-H as a leader for 27 years and the Lake County 4-H Council. She thoroughly enjoyed the Lake County Junior Fair and seeing neighbors and their children.

She was also active in the Round Butte Women's Club and Western Montana Cattlewomen.

Her greatest joy came from her grandchildren and she will always be known for her social nature and her large family meals. She enjoyed scrapbooking and had met many friends while scrapbooking.

She especially loved reminiscing about growing up on the family ranch and visiting her friends and relatives from the Big Hole.

Preceded Sue in death were her parents Orville and Anne Sparrow; and her father-in-law and mother-in-law, Robert and Katherine Smith.

Surviving are her husband James Smith; two brothers, Casey Sparrow and Boone (Denise) Sparrow of Phoenix; three sons, Dusty Smith of Ronan, Dan (Becky Jones) Smith of Ronan and Casey (Deanne) Smith of Arlee; two daughters, Diana (Ken Luke) Smith of Polson and Dawn (Will) Miller of Basin, Wyo.; six nephews and one favorite niece, Teresa (Clint) Sohr of Ronan; her grandchildren include Katie, Cheyenne and Ty Smith; Andrew Wheeler, Kayla and Kirbie Jones; Amanda, Anna and Abigail Luke; and Shelby Smith.

She is also survived by seven great-nieces and nephews. She also considered Carrie Clairmont, Pamela Harris, and Charity Cheff as daughters and Kelsey, Lindsey and Courtnee Clairmont and Gavin Knutson as grandchildren.

She was also eagerly awaiting the arrival of another grandchild and a great-niece/nephew late this summer.

The funeral service was held June 20 at Immaculate Conception Church in Polson. Graveside interment was at the Ronan Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Round Butte Women's Club or the Lake County 4-H.

Shrider-Thompson Funeral & Cremation Services assisted with arrangements.