Name: Visitation for Gary Lee Smith
Start: 2022-01-25T18:00:00.000Z
End: 2022-01-25T23:00:00.000Z
Location: Adams & Swanson Funeral Home - North Platte

Gary Lee Smith, 77, of North Platte, passed away on Jan. 21, 2022, at Great Plains Health in North Platte. Gary was born on Aug. 18, 1944, to Albert Lee and Edel (Petersen) Smith in Great Falls, Montana. Gary grew up in Newcastle, Wyoming, graduating from Newcastle High School in 1963. He worked as a disc jockey in Rapid City, South Dakota, and a TV announcer. He was involved with a scuba diving group that helped with search and recovery. He then moved to Fallon, Nevada, where he continued his radio career. Gary met and married his first wife, Karen, and to this union a son, Richard Lee was born. He moved back to New Castle, then to Buffalo, Wyoming, and then to Rapid City, South Dakota. Eventually, he moved to Gering where he became a police officer. Gary was married to Betty J. Coleman on Aug. 21, 1978, in Scottsbluff. He was a sergeant with the Gering Police Department. They moved to Newcastle in 1982 where he was a police officer, deputy sheriff, justice of the peace and eventually, the chief of police for Newcastle. Then they moved to O'Neill where he was chief of police, retiring in 2003. The couple moved to North Platte in 2003 where he was Chaplain for the North Platte Police Department, North Platte Fire Department and Lincoln County Sheriff's Office. Gary officiated many wedding ceremonies and funerals in North Platte during his time here. He assisted the local law enforcement in any way he could. He was a road captain for the Patriot Guard and served on the committee for the Police Memorial in Grand Island. He was a chaplain for many motorcycle shows and rallies, filled the pulpit for Sunday services for area churches and spoke at services at Fort McPherson National Cemetery. Gary was involved in the annual Mikey Ride in Wallace and was past president of the Platte Valley Gun Club. Survivors include his wife, Betty of North Platte; son, Richard L. (Jen) Smith of Ohio; four grandchildren; one sister, Deb (Gary Wilson) Smith of Newcastle; nieces, Anna (Aaron) Logan and Jenny Mosley, all of Newcastle; and many other family members and numerous friends. In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established in Gary's name. Online condolences may be shared at adamsswanson.com. Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 26, at the Cody Park Pavilion, North Platte, with Fire Chief Dennis Thompson and Ray Richards officiating. The Patriot Guard will be in attendance. The service will be livestreamed via the Adams & Swanson Facebook page for those unable to attend. Book signing will be from noon to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 25, at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home, which is in charge of arrangements.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by North Platte Telegraph on Jan. 25, 2022.

Memories and Condolences
for Gary Smith

Sponsored by Adams & Swanson Funeral Home - North Platte.

9 Entries

Ronald Gusman

February 11, 2022

My name is Ron Gusman a retired Sgt with the Nebraska State Patrol from Sidney, Ne. My sister Josephine Dauphin passed away on February 9, 2022, and a Cousin Cecil Simon on February 2, 2022, and
were from North Platte. I was looking at the obituaries and saw Gary Lee Smith Obituary. After reading he was the same person that I knew when he worked for the Gering Pollice Department. I got to know Gary when the agencies had training, meetings and gong to the Pistol matches. We were members of the Tri-State Peace Officers Association. These meetings as you may recall were twice a year either in South Dakota or Wyoming. Gary loved to participate in the pistol matches and did very well. Rain, snow or wind never stopped the match. Gary was exceptional person, nice to talk to and had a lot of laughs together. The last time I saw Gary was when he took it upon himself and hosted a Tri-State Meeting in Newcastle, Wy. in 1997. Gary was a great person and will be missed.

Heartfelt Sympathy to you and your family at this time of sorrow.

Ron and Jan Gusman

First Presbyterian Church

February 9, 2022

All of us at First Presbyterian send our thoughts and prayers to Betty and the family. It was a privilege to have Chaplain Smith at the pulpit many times when we were without a pastor. He was a kind and dear man and always had a good message for us. May God be with you all at this sad time.

Patrick McNeil

January 26, 2022

Gary was one of a kind and a kind soul. And yet you also always knew he was no nonsense he'd tell you like it is. Godspeed Gary I will miss you telling us every day to have a blessed day.

George Lewis

January 26, 2022

Betty, sorry for your loss. Gary was a good man and will be missed.

Peggy Hakanson

January 25, 2022

So many wonderful memories with Gary & Betty at GWTA events. I enjoyed his Sunday morning prayer services. Gary & Betty prepared MANY ziplock bag omelette breakfasts and Dwayne & I loved to help out. Thank you for being such a great man, and friend.

Fred, Sherrie,& Treyton Burke

January 25, 2022

Gary helped us through some of our darkest times. He will be missed by so many. So sorry for your loss Betty and will hold our friendship close to our hearts.

Dan and Mary Agler

January 25, 2022

Dan and I met Gary when we joined the American Legion Riders group in North Platte. We were honored to know him and participate in many of the activities he was associated with. He will be greatly missed and remembered in our thoughts and prayers. Thoughts and prayers also go out to Betty and his entire family at this time.

Denny Harrahill

January 25, 2022

So sorry for your loss Betty. Gary was a true Christian gentleman.

Bud Kleewein

January 25, 2022

Sorry for your loss

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