Vernon Henry "Buster" Smith Jr.

Vernon "Buster" Henry Smith Jr., of Bemidji, MN died Monday, March 2, 2026 at his home in Bemidji.

Memorial Services will be held at 11:00am, Friday, March 6, 2026 at the Cease Family Funeral Home in Bemidji, MN. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. Arrangements are with the Cease Family Funeral Home in Bemidji.

He was born on September 9, 1947, in Bemidji, MN, the son of Vernon Sr. and Stella (Spears) Smith. He was raised and educated in Bemidji, graduating from Bemidji High School in 1966. He was inducted into the US Army in 1966, and served a one-year tour in Vietnam. He was Honorably Discharged in 1969. He was an auto mechanic and worked for Harold's Alignment. He later went into business on his own, starting and running Buster's Front End Shop in Bemidji for nearly 30 years. He married Sandra Zyllo on March 3, 1988 in Las Vegas, NV. He was a very avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting, fishing, and camping. He enjoyed traveling, and socializing with friends and family. He loved making metal art and working with driftwood in his shop.

He is survived by his:

Wife, Sandy Smith

Children, Tammy (Brandon) Johnson

Troy (Crystal) Baker,

Grandchildren, Sophie Johnson, Stella Johnson, Salem Johnson, and Josh Baker,

Brother, Robbie (Ellen) Smith.

He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters Evie Barrett, Rose Peterson, brothers, Dick Lawrence, Jim Lawrence, Bill Lawrence, Danny Smith, and granddaughter Paige Baker.