Obituary of Gerald R Smith

Mr. Gerald “Jerry” Smith passed away on December 6th in Chandler, Arizona at Chandler Regional Hospital in the company of his wife of 51 years, Donna, and his son Joshua. In lieu of a funeral, a remembrance celebration will be held at his residence in Arizona on December 16th. He will be cremated by Legacy Funeral Home of Chandler, Arizona and in the new year his cremains will be returned to the northwoods in Minnesota where he spent most of his life. A gathering for his Minnesota friends and family will be held at that time.

Jerry Smith, son of Roy and Lorraine Smith was born at the Naval Base in San Diego, California on March 5th, 1945 and was 78 years old at the time of his death. He grew up in Grand Forks, North Dakota and Marshall, Minnesota and was a competitive athlete in school. He earned advanced degrees in accounting from the University of North Dakota and served as a 1st lieutenant in the United States Army during the Vietnam War. He married his wife in 1972 and raised a family of three kids in Bemidji, Minnesota where he made his home for over 50 years. He was successful in business, and established a successful accounting firm and property management company. He built a beautiful home on Turtle River Lake and enjoyed the environment and lifestyle living on a lake in the woods. He and his wife retired to Chandler, Arizona to live near their grandkids. He was an active bridge player, a game he loved to play for more than 50 years. He played regularly in two bridge clubs with his neighbors. He never missed a Minnesota Vikings game.

He is survived by his wife, Donna Oby Smith (Arizona), two daughters, Kristie Taylor (California), Melissa Smith (Yucatan, Mexico), one son Joshua Smith (Arizona); five grandkids Eva Smith (Washington), Everett and Sawyer Smith (Arizona), Scarlett and Lincoln Taylor (California); two half sisters Shari Piehl (Minnesota), Kelly Konietzko (Minnesota), stepmother Betty Smith (Minnesota), an aunt Gladys Viergutz (Arizona), 9 nieces and nephews, and many extended relatives and friends.