Smith_John “Jack” Claude_10 Jan 1903

Jack Smith, 77 dies in Nebraska

John “Jack” Claude Smith, 77, of Morrill, Nebraska, died Sunday, March 2, in a Cheyenne hospital.

Funeral services were held Thursday, March 6, in the Scottsbluff LDS Church with Bishop Mike Bird officiating.

He was born January 10, 1903 at Menden, Utah. He received his early education in schools at Menden and Arbon. His parents homesteaded on a sagebrush farm in 1900 and his father died shortly after.

They remained on the farm and John went to work for the State of Idaho as a heavy equipment operator for 18 years before retiring in 1965, at which time he received a distinguished award from the Governor of Idaho.

He was married to Elsie Case Archibald on December 12, 1963 and they lived in Malad, Pocatello and Soda Springs until he retired in 1968 and they moved back to Morrill where Elsie was born and reared. She passed away January 16, 1980.

He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a veteran of World War II and a member of the American Legion Ernest W. Jones Post.

Survivors include sisters, Mrs. Ada Williams of Bear River City; Mrs. Norma Perry of Logan; stepdaughters, Mrs. Muriel Kruger of Scottsbluff, Neb.; Mrs. Jessie Richendifer of Douglas, Wyo.; and Mrs. Myrtle Fogle of Henry, Wyoming; step-sons, Joe Steiner of Buffalo, Wyo. and Art Steiner of Morrill.

Prelude and postlude was played by Linda Rittner; invocation, Orvel Crandell; obituary and remarks, Bishop Mike Bird; vocal, Maxine Crandell; speaker, Gerald Wilcox; benediction, Ray Hamilton.

Burial and concluding rites were at the Mitchell Cemetery.