Edward Lee 'Pops' Smith, 64
Edward Lee "Pops" Smith, 64, father, friend, brother and family historian took his place in the history he so dearly loved on Wednesday, April 6, 2005, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center in Kalispell.
He was born, the oldest of three children, Nov. 14, 1940, in Kalispell, to Roy and Opal (Walter) Smith. Growing up primarily in southwest Montana, Ed graduated from Three Forks High School in 1958, receiving his diploma in 1994, (after his son Eric paid off Ed's outstanding bill for shop class.)
Ed married Sharon Rogers soon after meeting her at the Gallatin County Fair in Bozeman. Thus began a 30-year marriage that would give them five sons and see them live in several locations that included Montana, Washington and Alaska.
In 1972, Ed took his family on what would be his favorite adventure; moving to Fairbanks, Alaska to allow Ed to become the operations manager for CPR Upjohn during the construction of the Alaska Pipeline.
Ed returned to Montana in 1975 to spend more time with his family and begin the entrepreneurial phase of his life as a successful tavern, hotel and resort owner. The next 15 years would see Ed prosper in his pursuits, help build a new school in Marion, return to Alaska for a brief time and eventually end up back in Kalispell so his youngest son could graduate from the same high school as his other three boys.
The last 15 years of Ed's life saw some of the happiest times of his entire life. After marrying Patty Hutsell in 1991, Ed was blessed with the majority of his grandchildren and several adventures with Patty in Washington. It was in Washington that Ed would become "Uncle Ed" to the next generation of nieces, nephews and "lovingly adopted" kids in his life.
Retiring in his beloved Marion, Ed spent his last years with his "children" coming up for Sunday dinner and the daily pilgrimage to coffee at the Hilltop to catch up on local gossip. Always ready to impart some story of family and friends, time with Ed will be sorely missed by all who had the pleasure to create a memory with him.
Ed's life was one steeped in history, tradition and family. Nothing in his life exemplified this more than his most cherished times - times that would be come known as "Pop's Hunting Camp" became an annual rebirth for Ed and all of his boys. This annual event has seen men and boys from all corners of the globe coming to attend, not for the hunting, but for the stories. Stories that they all would help to write and stories that Ed would always love to tell.
Ed was preceded in death by his parents and one son, Michael.
Ed is survived by his wife Patty Smith of Marion; four sons, Dan Smith and wife, Donna, Darrell Smith and wife, Chris, Eric Smith and wife, Shelly, all of Kalispell, and Lane Smith and wife, Laurie, of Marion; two stepsons, Scott Hergesheimer and wife, Jan,of Great Falls, and Andy Hergesheimer and TBD of Columbia Falls; 10 grandchildren, Derek, Cassidy, Kaycee, Kate, Alex, Caitlin, Bristal, Conor, Trace and Nickolas; one brother, Dan Smith and wife, Kay; and one sister, Sandi Swartzenberger and husband, Butch, all of Kalispell; additionally, Ed had numerous nieces and nephews throughout the United States, both of blood relation and by loving adoption by Ed himself.
Always the caring listener, Ed will get a chance to listen to the history of his life 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 9, at the Christian Center as family and friends gather to eulogize his life. Ed may be viewed at Johnson Mortuary Chapel from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday.
Johnson Mortuary and Crematory is caring for Ed's family.