Sidney Smith
December 12, 1923 ~ July 21, 2014
Early in the afternoon of July 21, 2014, Sidney Arnold Ivar Smith, age 90, peacefully passed away with family by his side. He had been a resident of the Villa St. Vincent Nursing Home in Crookston and was under the care of Hospice of the Red River Valley.
Sidney was born to Soren and Anna (Amundson) Smith December 12, 1923 on the Smith family farm east of Nielsville, MN. He was the oldest of seven children. Sidney was baptized and confirmed at the St. Petri Nielsville Lutheran Church. He attended the Nielsville Consolidated School and went on to graduate from Climax High School in 1942. He later studied at Dunwoody Institute of Minneapolis and Moorhead Technical College.
During his service in the US Army in 1945, Sidney was stationed in Japan and the Philippine Islands. After instruction in heavy equipment shovel maintenance and operations, he went on to conduct classes in mechanisms, breakdowns, and other fundamentals. Sidney was honorably discharged in 1946.
On December 31, 1951 he married Lillian Frances Kjersten of Wilton, ND. They spent a memorable honeymoon motorcycling across the US before moving from Hopkins, MN to Nielsville where they raised three children. Sidney owned and operated Valley Trading, a car/machinery repair shop near their home. Later he also worked at American Crystal, Fargo Steel, Branick, Simplot, Red River Distributing, Spokley Farms, and for the City of Nielsville.
Sidney was a man of thoughts, transforming them into physical inventions. He studied solar energy as well as aerodynamics. He found pleasure in attending auction sales and purchasing items for resale.
Sidney is survived by his wife, Lillian; son, Lee (Carla) of Grand Forks; daughters, Sandra (Douglas) Paulsrud of Nielsville, Kellie (James) Muigai of Tucson, AZ; six grandchildren, Adam (Kathryn) Smith, Tabetha Smith, Amy Smith, Aaron Smith, Abby Grund, and Kelsey (Joe) Christofferson; four great grandchildren, Alexandra, Cameron, Brooklynn and Gabryel Smith; two brothers, Norris Smith of Mesa, AZ, Curtis (Bonnie) Smith of Bemidji, MN; four sisters, Dagmar Larson of Crookston, Arlene Hamre of Fertile, MN, Shirley Anderson of Hopkins, Rosie (Richard) Backen of Princeton, MN.
He was preceded in death by his parents and grandson Rikki Smith.
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Crookston MN
Sorry to hear of you loss-
Fargo ND
I am sorry to hear about Sidney’s passing. My thoughts and prayers are with the family.
Hazen ARThinking of you all at this time. May God bless you and your family with his comfort.
Omaha NEUncle Sidney was a fascinating person with a mind always at work. A bit of a smile on his face left one wondering what his mind was thinking up now. My earliest memories are of his motorcycle (that I thought I should ride as a preschooler). Uncle Sidney was a unique person who will not be forgotten, an innovator before his time. What a lot of memories for you as his family to cherish & compile! Thoughts and prayers are with all of you.
Loretto MnOur deepest sympathy to you Sandy and your family. He did live a full life but one still never wants them to go.
Hutchinson MN
Smith Family,
You and your family are in our thoughts and prayers. I will always remember fond memories of Sidney visiting our home as a child. He and Lillian visitied us on occasion when they were in the Coon Rapids area.
Julie (Fournier) Craig,
Gabrielle & Adam
Naples FLto Sandy and the family of Sidney…our thoughts and prayers are with you. Your Dad was very special in your lives and you cared deeply for him. He will be missed.