Milbern SmithMilbern Smith
Milbern L. Smith, 81, died at 9:37 p.m. April 22, 2007, at Graham Hospital emergency room in Canton.
He was born Sept. 16, 1925, in rural Bernadotte, a son of James W. and Tina E. Stufflebeam Smith. He first married Beverly Ruth Hamm. He later married Mary F. Miller on June 24, 1966, in Astoria. She survives.
Also surviving are four sons, Jackie (and Rosemary) of Lewistown, Gerald A. (and Verna F.) and David G. (and Jonie P.), both of Browning, and Willis Leo of Little America; one daughter, Nancy J. McClanahan of Memphis, Tenn.; one stepdaughter, Barbara A. (and Gary) Copeland of Hurst, Texas; two sisters, Maxine Sackman of Astoria and Gwendola Bouc of Havana; 22 grandchildren; and 23 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by one daughter, Janet K. Smith; one stepdaughter, Sandra Griffin; three brothers; one sister; and one grandson.
He served in the U.S. Army during World War II, participated in the Normandy Invasion and received three purple hearts.
He was a welder for International Harvester in Canton, retiring after 30 years. He drove a school bus for Prichard Clark School for 20 years.
He was a member of Mount Pleasant United Methodist Church in rural Lewistown. He was a 50-year member of Canton VFW Post 1984, Canton American Legion Post and Disabled American Veterans. He was a scout master with the Boy Scouts of America Lewistown Troop for 20 years.
He and his wife had a clown ministry and he was Santa Claus at Jones Park in Canton for over 20 years. He and his wife were volunteer drivers for the American Cancer Society.
Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Henry-Lange Memorial Home in Lewistown with Rev. Martin Janicke officiating. Visitation will be held from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday at the memorial home. Burial will be in Apple Cemetery in rural Lewistown with a military service conducted by his VFW and American Legion posts.
Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Association.
Condolences may be sent to www.henrylange.com.