Leo Franklin Smith, 69

Leo Franklin Smith, 69, of Columbia Falls, died Nov. 9, 2006, at the Colonial Manor in Whitefish from ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease).

Leo was born April 22, 1937, to Frank and Helen Smith in Halfmoon where he was raised and educated. In 1958 he married Betty Lou Chapman of Columbia Falls, where the couple lived and raised their family until illness made it necessary for them to be cared for at the Colonial Manor.

In his early years, Leo worked for the Great Northern Railroad and F.H. Stoltz Lumber Company as head sawyer. In 1962 he was hired by Anaconda Aluminum Company as a laborer where he worked until retiring in 1997 as superintendent of casting. Leo enjoyed camping, fishing, hiking, picking huckleberries, playing cards, sitting on the deck watching humming birds, tinkering in his garage, watching sports and doing yard work.

Leo is survived by his wife, Betty Smith, of Whitefish; daughter, Sherry Burchett, and husband, Gary, of Kalispell; daughter, Tami Smith, of Whitefish; son, Terry Smith, and wife, Taryn, of Columbia Falls; son, Tony Smith, and wife, Dorothy, of Rapid City, S.D.; brother, William, and wife, Linda, of McGregor Lake; sister-in-law, Laverne Lindsley, of Whitefish; and cousin, Doris Hanson, of Whitefish.

Leo is also survived by five granddaughters, Laci Smith, Brianna Bukoskey, and Betsy Bukoskey, all of Kalispell, and Jordan Smith, and Sydney Smith, of Rapid City; five grandsons, Levi Smith, and wife Karen, of Helena, Jayme Bukoskey, of Kalispell, and Trevor Smith, Matthew Plooster, and Jason Plooster, of Rapid City; one great-grandson, Braden Winterburn-Smith, of Helena; and many beloved nieces and nephews.

Leo was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Helen; his mother and father-in-law, Lyle and Goldie Chapman; brother, Robert Smith, and wife, Barbara; brother-in-law, Richard Lindsley; and a nephew, Michael Smith.

Visitation will be held from 1 to 8 p.m. Monday, Nov. 13, at the Columbia Mortuary in Columbia Falls.

A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 14, at the Columbia Mortuary in Columbia Falls, with Rev. David Merkel officiating. Burial will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery in Columbia Falls. A reception will follow the burial at the Columbia Falls United Methodist Church.

The family has requested that memorial contributions be made in Leo's name to Home Options Hospice, 175 Commons Loop, Suite 100, Kalispell, Montana 59901.