Fritz Smith passed away on June 9, 2017 after a long illness. He was born on July 18, 1932 in Helena, Montana to Frank and Lucille Smith. He was the first born of 6 children. At an early age the family moved to Oregon where his father and Fritz worked on a gold dredge.
In 1950 he joined the Air Force during the Korean conflict and served in the military for 4 years. When he returned to Helena, he worked for a moving van company. He then was employed by Pepsi Cola in Helena for 36 years. He was the manager when he retired in 1994.
Fritz married his wife Rae on February 8, 1959; they were married for 58 years. They never had children. In 1960 they got their first dog and have never been without one. 5 of the dogs were poodles.
Fritz was preceded in death by his parents, 3 sisters, and 1 brother. He is survived by his wife, Rae, brother and sister-in-law, Larry and Sandy Smith, sister-in-law, Darlene Ross, and several nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, June 16th at Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home, 3750 N. Montana Ave., with a reception to immediately follow in the social hall of the funeral home. Following the reception, a graveside service with Military Honors will take place at Montana State Veterans Cemetery, Fort Harrison. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Montana Military Museum, 419 Hayes Ave., Helena, MT 59601. Please visit below to offer the family a condolence or to share a memory of Fritz.
Service Schedule
Memorial Service
11:00 a.m.
Friday June 16, 2017
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Ave.
Helena, Montana 59602
Reception
Following the memorial service
Friday June 16, 2017
Social hall of the funeral home
3750 N. Montana Ave.
Helena, Montana 59602
Burial with Military Honors
2:00 p.m.
Friday June 16, 2017
Montana State Veterans Cemetery
Heroe's Road
Fort Harrison, Montana
Service Schedule
Memorial Service
11:00 a.m.
Friday June 16, 2017
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Ave.
Helena, Montana 59602
Reception
Following the memorial service
Friday June 16, 2017
Social hall of the funeral home
3750 N. Montana Ave.
Helena, Montana 59602
Burial with Military Honors
2:00 p.m.
Friday June 16, 2017
Montana State Veterans Cemetery
Heroe's Road
Fort Harrison, Montana
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Tom Juhl says
Fritz you were a good man, R.I.P. my friend…..
Allen stenhjem says
Rea our prayers and thoughts are with you.” Let s turn around “a
nd thank god we all knew this great Guy god bless ………….Allen. Glenda
Fred and Judy Bakke says
Fritz will be missed, he sure a fun loving man, When he wanted to do something, it had to be to his perfection and that was it. We used help him with the Stampede arrangements . What great memories we have. You will be remembered for ages to come. Love ya Fritz…. God Bless you Rea.
George and Jackie LLOYD says
Sorry to hear about Fritz. He worked for George many years ago. RIP.
Harley Warner says
Fritz will be sorely missed by all of those of us who knew him. He was truly one of a kind.
Cris Tobias says
Fritz your laughter was infectious and always brought warmth to my heart and a smile to face. Love you Fritz.
Rae, Know that you are not alone, you will feel his love in warmth of the summer sun, the twinkle of his eye in the bright blue sky and hear his laughter in the bubbling of the creeks. Love you dear.
Larry Murphy says
RIP Fritz, from all who knew you at the Helena Exchange Club and the L&C Stampede .
Debby Tobias says
I have so many warm memories of times spent with Fritz and Rae… All of them filled with easy rollicking laughter, bright smiles, yummy food, stories galore, more laughter and more food! Fritz, yours was a life well lived and I am so thankful our lives crossed many times. You were loved by all who knew you and you will remain forever in our hearts and memories. Rae, my love and prayers are with you. Take real good care of yourself and rest in the knowledge you were AND are so loved. God bless.
Judy and Harley Warner says
We are thinking of all of you at this time and regret that we are unable to attend the celebration of Fritz’s life as we are in Canada. Please know that you are all in our prayers.
Kelly Schroeder Rhimer says
To the family of Fritz,
He was a wonderful person, so glad I was able to know him. What a great loss to Helena and the Stampede.
Michelle Schmaus says
I am so luck to have had been a part of his life, the times we shared, the laughs we laughed, and even a tear or two we cried. I will miss you so much but we will see each other again, then maybe we will be able to celebrate our birthday on the actual day of see you later uncle fritz luv you much….
Roger Hagan says
Although I didn’t get to know Fritz until the past several years, he was always a friend. He would work his heart out for any volunteer project as I learned from the Air Show, Military Museum Wine Fair, and many other local events. Fritz never knew the word ‘no’. I will forever miss his friendship.
Bridger veterinary hospital says
I known Mr. Fritz for a long time. I have great memories of being in 4H and running the concession stands at the races and the rodeo. Fritz “the pop man” was always there to help us out, he would always treat us kids with
Kindness and a smile. I then was honored to be part of his beloved pets when they started bring them to our hospital.
He was a a very fine man and he will be dearly missed.
Thinking of you,
Sharlene Stav
Bobbie Gardner says
Dear Rae,
Josh and I are so sorry to hear about Fritz, he sure was a great man! You both were such wonderful neighbors, and we will always cherish his friendship, and his great sense of humor. God bless.
Wanda Rae Arlint says
I will always love and cherish the stories sitting around the table at Thanksgiving, playing cards or the reunion in Lincoln. You really surprised me with some of the pranks you got away with, my favorite was the story about the frogs. I’ll never forget your laugh. I’ll keep you in my prayers Aunt Rae.
Love Wanda Rae
Don Pratt says
I knew Fritz for years and a better friend could not be found. We had many laughs in Exchange Club and working on the Wine Fair. He will be greatly missed
Betty Mason Poucher says
Dear Rae, Larry and family,
It was with great sadness when I heard that “Smitty” had gone his “Happy Hunting Grounds.” I’ m thinking that he and Nick are telling all those hunting stories to each other again. Nick went along time before Smitty , but all our kids still remembered Smitty and all the fun we all had when we were around him.
I cannot attended his funeral as I have a doctor’s appointment in Great Falls at that time.
God and your poodle dog will comfort you as you mourn his passing, as I know from experience.
I’ll keep you in my prayers. Betty Mason Poucher
Dolores Eustice says
I recognized Smitty’s picture in the obits; although I only remember him from my childhood, when he and my dad Nick Mason were good friends that hunted and fished together. I remember him as friendly and a teaser. My condolences to your family.
Jack L Long says
Fritzy hired me when I was just 16 years old. I worked beside him until he retired. From the day he hired me I felt like our relationship was more like that of a father and son. If he thought I did something wrong or that I could have done it better I guarantee you he chewed my butt, but we would forget it and we’d move on as soon as he got it out of his mouth. I can remember being so mad it him. But trust me I would have walked over hot coals for him. I have always had a great respect for him he taught me a lot, he definitely had a lot to do with my work ethic. Working with him is the reason I was able to put in 42 years at Pepsi Cola. I will surly miss him and his humor and laugh. Rest in peace good friend. And to Rae those of us that knew Fritz well, know that you are a saint.
Molly Robinson Friis says
Rae I was so sorry to hear about Fritz. He was such a wonderful man, and ever the gentleman. I will always remember him as family. I still remember you guys and Mom and Dad getting together it was always fun. A trip to Pepsi was never much fun if he wasn’t there he always had a smile and a laugh for me. My condolences to you. Sending you lots of hugs and prayers.
Joe Storseth says
He was a special soul he’d stop in at Pepsi here in Helena and always brought a wonderful sense of humor. I loved greeting him at the front window. He always was a gentleman and always made me laugh and smile. May God Bless him and look after his family during there time of need. Fritz God Speed and may you rest in peace.