Gilbert Smith

Gilbert “Gil” Smith, of Devils Lake passed away on Thursday, September 19, 2024 at CHI, St. Alexius, Devils Lake Hospital at the age of 83.

There will be a gathering of family and friends at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Wednesday, September 25, 2024 from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. with a Funeral Service on Thursday, September 26th at 3:00 p.m. also at the Gilbertson Funeral Home. Burial and Military Honors will be in the Devils Lake Cemetery. Gil will be laid with his canine buddy Vicky.

Gilbert was born to Gilbert and Myrtle (Walker) Smith on May 20, 1941, He was schooled in Hampden, North Dakota until the 8th grade. Gilbert enlisted in the North Dakota Army National Guard on February 6, 1969. Gil was united in marriage to his precious Mary “Connie” Rice in 1962 and they established their home in Devils Lake where they lived, worked, and raised their family. Connie died on August 5, 2015.

Gil worked various truck driving jobs in his lifetime. The last few years of his life he worked at Prairie View School as a janitor. He enjoyed his time working with the kids at the school. He had his favorites that he loved to tease. He also enjoyed working with his ladies, the teachers, at the school.

He is survived by his loving family. His daughters Lori Hadlock, Lancaster, California and Joan Ross (James) of Webster, North Dakota; sons Tracy Smith (Judy) of Addison, New York and Donald Smith (Jackie) of Corpus Christi, Texas; grandchildren Tristan Ross, William (Hayley) Ross, Kelvin Smith, Tiesa Smith, Blake (Katie) Hadlock, Kevin (Adrian) Ross, Bethany (Alex) Hadlock, Traylynn Smith, Jacob Smith, Dakota Smith, Reagan Smith, Katie Wilson and Micki Rathman; great grandchildren Jillian Ross, Christopher Ross, Blaze Lees, TJ Lees, Trey Lees, Blaine Kendell and Sawyer Preston Ross; brother Jack (Dixie) Smith; sister Barbra (Dave) Olson; sisters-in-law Ida (Larry) Miller, Gloria Smith, Doris Anderson as well as many nieces and nephews.

Gil was preceded in death by his wife Mary “Connie” Smith, parents, brother Tom Smith, son-in-law William Craig Hadlock, grandson Trevor Hadlock, brothers-in-law Jack Rice and Jerome Rice, sister-in-law Elizabeth Reiger, father-in-law and mother-in-law Vernon and Mable Rice, step father Lyle Mahoney.

Pallbearers will be William “Joey” Ross and Kevin Ross. Honorary Bearers will be all of Gil’s Coffee Buddies from the White House Café, Cedar Inn Restaurant and Mr. and Mrs. J’s, the Faculty of Prairie View School and Barry Schwan, Kelly Smeltzer, Gary Reiger, Wayne Eback, Mark and Jodi Mercer, Shane and Mindy Cavanaugh, Randy Kraft, Kevin Simms, Brad Larson, John Emerson, Tracy Leppard, and special niece Carol Greywater.