John Walter Smith, age 76, passed away September 28, 2025 at Benefis Hospital in Great Falls from natural causes. John was born August 6, 1949 to Floyd and Edith Smith in Townsend Montana. He married Trinda Smith on December 26, 2001 in Helena Montana, where they resided until his death. John was very proud of his military service; he served as a Navy Seabee in Vietnam from 1968 to 1969.
John attended school in Townsend and earned his GED from Helena High. He worked for the City of Helena and then at the Asarco Smelter in East Helena for 22 years…he retired from Asarco when it closed.
John was an ornery old curmudgeon who had a heart of gold. He enjoyed spending time at the family cabin in Elkhorn, where he hunted, fished, and rode 4 wheelers and then side by sides. In the last years of his life he loved to take rides through the mountains to find game and beautiful scenery, taking time to stop and smell the roses and stop in to share a cup of coffee. He loved building projects and constantly was working on remodeling the cabin. One of his favorite building materials was spray foam. He could hold anything together with ten inch screws and spray foam. Family was the most important thing to John; he loved spending all his time with his family.
John is survived by his wife Trinda Smith, of Helena, Montana; his three children, JoAnn Smith of Helena, Leslie Smith of Helena, Jonathon Smith (Courtney) of East Helena, step children Gary Myers (Beth Douglass) of Helena and Laura Wight (Ben) of New Mexico, his siblings Tom (Carla) Smith of Elkhorn, Vicci (Glen) Stroop of Helena and Cheryl (Bob) Stubblefield of Helena. Also surviving are grandchildren Kristopher Smith, Janeá Merkel, Nicole Jones, Cassie Smith, Gracie Smith, Tatum Smith, Ben Smith, Tyler Hernandez, Tristen Camargo, Dominic Camargo, Logan Wight, Aiden Breau, Mira Wight, Deacon Wight, Gabe Douglass-Myers, Breanna Douglass-Myers, and 9 great grandchildren
John is preceded in death by his parents Floyd and Edith Smith, his brother Don Smith, and grandson Trever Smith.
Visitation will take place at Anderson Stevenson Wilke funeral home from 9:30 to 10:30 on Friday, October 3, with a funeral procession following to Sunset Memorial Gardens for a graveside service with military honors at 11:00. This will be followed by a celebration of John’s life at the family cabin in Elkhorn, Montana at 1:00 PM.
Service Schedule
Visitation
9:30 am to 10:30 am
Friday October 3, 2025
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N Montana Ave.
Helena, Montana 59602
Burial with Military Honors
11:00 am
Friday October 3, 2025
Sunset Memorial Gardens
7100 N Montana Ave.
Helena, Montana 59602
Share
Add your thoughts and memories.