Howard E. Smith

1917 - 2011

HOWARD E. SMITH, 94

Salem, OR

Formerly of Sartell

March 16, 1917 ~ June 13, 2011

Howard E. Smith, Salem, OR, formerly of Sartell, MN, age 94, died Monday, June 13, 2011.

Funeral Services will be Saturday, June 25, 2011 at 11:30 AM at the Benson Funeral Home Chapel, St. Cloud, MN. Rev. Randy Johnson will officiate. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Burial will be in Lakeview Cemetery, Aitkin, MN.

Howard was born March 16, 1917 in Chicago, IL to Howard E. and Olga Maria (Iverson) Smith, Sr. He married Wava Schwantes on October 12, 1939 in Brainerd, MN. Howard founded the Ben Franklin Store in Aitkin and then owned and operated the Ben Franklin Store in Crosby from 1946 until 1993.

He served in the Minnesota State Legislature from 1967 to 1977 and was Chairman of Appropriations for Education Committee from 1973-1977. Howard was involved in many civic affairs and groups in Crosby-Ironton, such as he served 12 years as a school board member for the Crosby Ironton School District and he was an active member of the Chamber of Commerce and Highway 6 Vacationland concept. He was a member of First United Methodist Church, St. Cloud, an active member of the Lions Club for 50 years and the Cuyuna Range Masonic Lodge in Crosby, MN.

Survivors include his daughters, Victoria (Julian) Cooley of Brownsville, TX; and Deborah (Anthony) Sorem of Salem, OR; sister, Betty Stebbins of Aitkin, MN; four grandchildren, Rebecca Fahey of Hudson, WI; Christopher Cooley of Hudson, WI; Andrew Sorem of Centennial, CO; and Alan Sorem of Salem, OR; and six great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and wife, Wava, on January 10, 2008.

Memorials preferred to for the building of the children's wing of the First United Methodist Church.