Frank H. Smartt

Frank H. Smartt was born Nov. 23, 1918 to Hacket D. and Lela Mae Richmond Smartt near Lamar, Colo. As a young man he worked on the family farm and attended Paradox School, a one- room rural school, and graduated from Lamar High School in 1936. Just short of graduating from the University of Colorado in Boulder, he was called to help his father work the farm to supply food crops for World War II troops. They raised turkeys, sheep, and cattle as well as alfalfa, wheat and sugar beets on their 400 acres. They donated a train-car load of wheat for war-torn Europe. Frank supervised German war prisoners and Jamaican laborers assigned to the farm. He married Erma Sterrett Aug. 16, 1942 in Lamar. Three sons were born to this union: David L. in 1946, Donald R. in 1947, and Charles F. in 1951. Frank and Erma and their three sons had many happy times working, hunting, fishing, and vacationing together. Frank enjoyed sports. He was an avid baseball player. He pitched horseshoes well and received many trophies for his skill. He was a licensed pilot and a member of the Colorado Flying Farmers. He served as president of the Lamar Flight Club for several years. In 1957 he and Erma both returned to school at Colorado State College of Education (now Northern Colorado State University) in Greeley. He earned his Master's Degree and Erma earned her B.A. Frank moved his family to Boise, Idaho in the fall of 1958 where he joined Boise Junior College (now Boise State University) as the third member of the Mathematics Department. In 1981 he retired Professor Emeritus after 23 years of service. In 1971 he purchased a farm near Meridian. With the help of his sons they raised produce, which they marketed throughout southern Idaho and eastern Oregon. Smartt Farms was one of the first in the area to introduce drip irrigation in their operations. Frank was baptized at an early age in Lamar's First Baptist Church and it was there that he was ordained a life deacon at the age of 26. Upon moving to Boise he became a member of Boise First Baptist Church and over the years he served in numerous capacities: Sunday school superintendent, trustee, deacon, class president, and home Bible study teacher. Frank was a deep thinker, but loved humor and was often the life of the party. Surviving Frank are his wife Erma of 66 years, and his three sons, David and wife Rita Smartt of Caldwell, Donald and wife Kelly Smartt of Meridian, and Charles and wife Florence Smartt of Nampa; grandchildren Geoff and Lisa Smartt of Middleton, Mary Smartt Rossiter and Deryk of Boise, Charles A. and Sandi Smartt of Birdseye, Utah, Michael and Alison Smartt of Meridian, Ky Wright of Kuna, and Scott Borchardt of Boise; great-grandchildren Darien, Jonathan, Davis, and Jared of Middleton; Brittner, Dallin, Maddison and Timothy of Birdseye, Utah; Cutter and Dannin Rossiter of Boise; Annelissa Bradley and Cauy Wright of Kuna; and Chase and Cheyenne Borchardt of Boise. Other surviving relatives are his sister Betty Ann and Charles Burgener of Littleton, Colorado, his sister-in-law Roberta Smartt of Arizona, and several cousins. Preceding him in death were his parents Hacket and Lela Smartt, two brothers, Edward R. and Jack W. all of Colorado. Funeral services will be held on Monday, Nov. 3, 2008 at 11 a.m. at Summers Funeral Homes, Ustick Chapel. Burial will follow at the Meridian Cemetery. Arrangements by Summers Funeral Homes, Ustick Chapel.