Bennie Lee Smith

Bennie Lee Smith was born Sept.12, 1950, to Orval and Harriet Smith in Dumas, Texas, and went home to be with The Lord on May 2, 2021, at the age of 70 years, seven months and 20 days.

He grew up in Bristow and after graduating from high school, he went on to serve his country in the United States Navy. During his early years in the Navy, he married Mary Abbott of Bristow. They had three sons. After the Navy and a divorce, Bennie settled in Sherburn, Minnesota. There he met and married Ruth Buller. From his second marriage he gained two daughters.

After retiring from driving a semi over most of these United States, Bennie started traveling to visit and see how he could be of help to his family and friends - whether it was traveling to someone’s birthday celebration, Montana to bail hay or work a cattle drive, Arkansas to build a structure or play with his 3rd cousins, Bristow to help on the family property, or just to sit down and talk to someone about Jesus - he was always ready to be of service. And, yes, he did manage to get in lots of fishing whether summer or winter.

He is survived by three sons Barry Smith of Lincoln, Nebraska, Steven Smith, of Epping, South Dakota, and Craig Smith (wife Merrie), of Oklahoma City; two daughters Nickole Bowie (husband Linh), of Trimont, Minnesota, and Jamie Dejames, of Granada, Minnesota; one brother OB Smith (wife Dee), of Enid; three sisters Laura Halladay (husband Joel) of Burton, Michigan, Virginia Smith-Yocham, of Bristow and Patricia Houston, of Bristow; 10 grandchildren, three great grandchildren and one on the way; and a host of other relatives and friends. Bennie will be missed by all who knew and loved him.

He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters Loretta Taylor and Carolyn Eckert, and brother Freddie David Smith.

Inurnment – still to be determined.