Robert Wilson Smith, 92

Robert (Bob) Wilson Smith, a longtime resident of Lakeside, recently passed away after losing his fight against pneumonia and is now with our Lord Jesus. He was a beloved father and husband, a retired USAF Chief Master Sergeant, and was the best storyteller.

He was born to Wilson and Cora Smith on May 4, 1931. They lived on a farm outside of Ronan. His grandfather, Billy Smith, was the first Territorial Marshal of Montana. Life on the farm was filled with challenges and the tales Bob told of the farm, and of his legendary eighth grade teacher, Mrs. Barkenbus, will never be forgotten by the family as they were absolutely hilarious.

The family later moved to Polson where Robert graduated high school. Shortly thereafter, he joined the United States Air Force as an enlisted man and was assigned to a remote island in Japan during the Korean War. The journey to Japan was exciting for a farm boy, but seasickness was his main memory from the voyage. Bob always had an amusing tale to regale his family – this one involved an unexploded bomb he and his friends found on the beach of that remote island, whose bottom line is: at least no one died.

When he returned from that assignment, he was stationed at Ellington AFB, just outside of Houston, Texas. He was on leave from that base when an unexpected event occurred that would forever change his life.

Bob had been given permission by his Captain for a two-week leave to visit his parents in Montana, but the Captain never told his Lieutenant: LT Decker (a hallowed name in our family). After one week of his vacation had passed, Bob received a telegram from LT Decker informing him that he would be considered AWOL if he didn’t return to Ellington on the next train.

Filled with worry, Bob fortunately got on that train as during that journey, he met Barbara Henderson from Templeman, Va. By the time the train arrived in Chicago, Bob was smitten with Barbara. He got her address, and this farm boy managed to charm Barbara into marrying him the following year. 

Three children followed as this military family journeyed to many new locations: Missoula, where he received his bachelor’s degree in Wildlife Biology; Beausejour, Canada; Chandler AFB, Minn.; Spokane, Wash.; Hebo, Ore.; Biloxi, Miss.; Prum, W. Germany; Ramstein, W. Germany; Kunsan AFB, Korea; Lakeside Radar Station, Mont.; back to Ramstein, W. Germany; Riyad, Saudi Arabia; Malmstrom AFB, Great Falls; then back to Ramstein, Germany.

He reached the top grade for enlisted service members: Chief Master Sergeant. He was lauded with many awards during his illustrious military career, including the Meritorious Service Medal.

After 30 years in the Air Force, Bob retired to Lakeside in 1984 and was worried he would die within the year as he had been told that over 50% of all Chiefs died in the first year after they retired. Bob lived almost 40 more years! If only he had known he didn’t have to worry.

Bob was good at beating the odds, he beat cancer twice. He filled his days with gardening, hunting (pheasants at Ninepipe lived in fear of him), fishing, golfing, skeet shooting, huckleberry picking, bird watching, and always had a deep love of Montana and the outdoors.

He is survived by his wife, Barbara; his daughters, Robin Smith Boon (David) and Bobbette Smith; his son, Brett Smith; his sister, Wilma Smith Maxwell; his grandchildren, Aubrey Boon Curry (Chris), Adam Boon, Coleson Smith and Evelyn Smith; and his great-grandchildren, Alora and Andrew Curry. Bob was preceded in death by his beloved daughter-in-law, Anna Meyers Smith.

A graveside service will be held at Lakeview Cemetery in Polson, at 1 p.m. Aug. 31, 2024. Messages of condolence may be shared with the family online at lakefuneralhomeandcremation.com.

Arrangements are under the care of The Lake Funeral Home and Crematory.