W. George Smith, 89

W. George Smith of Great Falls and Sun Lakes, Ariz., passed away peacefully from complications of a stroke at Chandler General Hospital in Chandler, Ariz., Aug. 15, 2010. George was born in Bainville to Charles and Ruth Smith on July 12, 1921. After graduation from Bainville High School, he met Sybil Ann Shirley of Arnegard, N.D., and that was the beginning of a lifelong, loving relationship. They were married Jan. 16, 1945, in Arnegard, a beginning of a marriage that would last for 65 years. George was an entrepreneur, retailer and innovator. He loved his work, and was always looking for the next business opportunity. He started his working life as a telegrapher for the Great Northern Railroad, but he always had visions of owning his own retail business, a goal that he would accomplish many times. He gained his first experiences in the retail world working as a manager for Super Save grocery stores in Great Falls and Havre. After gaining that experience, he went out on his own, buying his first business " a corner grocery store in Great Falls, which he renamed One Stop Super. Within a year, through many innovative promotions and hard work, he more than doubled the size of the store, and bought a second store on the west side of Great Falls. His stores were the first to be open on Sundays and holidays and past 6 p.m. By the late 60s George, or Windy, as he was affectionately called by many friends and family, realized that the days of the small grocery store were numbered. But he found a new avenue to pursue his dreams and he became one of the first tenants in the new Holiday Village Shopping Center. He opened a popular coffee shop called The Patio. Always thinking, around 1970 he made a trip to California to find other business opportunities. He did come back with the Orange Julius franchise, which he added to The Patio. Always restless, and never quite satisfied, he recognized the opportunity for another store in Holiday Village. Even though, as oldest son Rick has said, He didn t know a cowboy boot from an anvil, he opened a Western clothing store and called it Western Village. This new store seemed to satisfy his lifelong desire to be a retailer. Western Village did lead to other stores. George and second son Mike owned the Westerners in Missoula. Several Levi fashion stores called The Jeanery were also opened in different locations. Along with sister and brother-in-law Donna and Don Thorpe, he opened probably the most successful Western Village in the Fiesta Mall in Mesa, Ariz. For many of its 10 years of operation it had the highest sales per square foot of any store in this large mall. Through all his various business ventures, his loving wife Sybil was always right at his side. George is currently survived by Sybil, who is in the final stages of Alzheimer s disease. George s greatest accomplishment in his life was the wonderful care he provided for Sybil in the past few years. He refused to put her in any kind of assisted living " he was going to take care of her " and he did. Finally on Aug. 9, 2010, she had to be moved to a Hospice facility in Chandler. The next day George was admitted to the hospital. The family always wondered how one would ever live without the other. We found the answer " they couldn t. George and Sybil loved Great Falls, which was home. But since 1978, they were able to winter at their home in Sun Lakes, Ariz. They loved to play golf and were longtime members of the Meadowlark Country Club. They cherished the visits from their large family. George loved sports of all kinds and would often be found at local high school sporting events. They were members of the Christ Methodist Church in Great Falls. In addition to his wife Sybil, George is survived by sons and daughters, Rick and Merry Jo of Kalispell, Mike and Ann of Missoula, Sue and Tim Vogl of Tucson, Ariz., Scott and Denise Rohan-Smith of Missoula, and Judy and Kip Morran of Great Falls. Also surviving are 10 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. Surviving siblings, all of the Phoenix area, are Bob, Bud, Donna Thorpe and Helen Simard. Preceding George in death were brothers, Albert and Bill; and sisters, Lucille Allen and Doris Landers. Funeral arrangements are pending and will be announced at a later date.