Arthur Smith Jr.

Arthur A Smith, Jr, age 84, died Saturday, February 18th, 2023, in the comfort of his home, following a long battle with cancer.

Born July 15th, 1938 in Trent, South Dakota, Art was one of nine children born to the late Arthur and Bernice Smith.

He was a veteran of the US Air Force, having served as an aircraft electrician repairman at Hahn Air Force Base in Germany.  Upon arriving in Germany he completed his GED. His love of airplanes was evident early in his life.  He learned how to fly gliders and was a member of the German-American Glider Club in Traben-Trarbach.  Later he attended flight school where he earned his pilot’s license for commercial, instructor, instrument, and float ratings and served in the Minnesota Wing of the Civil Air Patrol.  His love of airplanes didn’t stop there.  Since his youth, he was building and flying remote controlled model airplanes.  He belonged to model clubs both in Minnesota and in Grand Junction, Colorado.

He completed four (4) years of training to become a carpenter apprentice.  His career started with home building and transitioned to commercial construction, working his way to Project Superintendent.  He retired after 24 years with Kraus-Anderson Construction Company.

He achieved other course accreditations for arc and gas welding, supervision, building estimating, real estate sales and photography.

Art was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Harvey; and sister, Louise Norling.

Art is survived by his wife of 44 years, Linda; daughter, Jennifer (Steven); son, Randall (Anna); two brothers, Robert (Nola) Smith; Richard (JoAnn) Smith; four sisters, Mary Lou Purvis; Mildred Benert; Eileen Fluegear; Donna (Steve) Anderson and three grandchildren, Samuel, Abigail and Isabel Kristensen.

We would like to thank all of the doctors and care givers who provided excellent care through the years and for the staff of St. Mary’s and Hope West who made Art’s final wishes possible.

He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

No services will be held.  In lieu of flowers, please consider making a memorial contribution in Arthur’s name to Hope West, 3090 North 12th Street, Unit B, Grand Junction, Colorado  81506.