Services Thursday for Kelly Smith
Kelly Smith, 51 of Bagley, MN went home to be with the Lord on Sunday July 12th surrounded by his Wife, Children, Father, Sisters & Brother and some of the grandchildren, after a 2 yr. battle with cancer.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday, July 16, 2015 at 1:00 p.m. at the Country Faith Church in Clearbrook, MN with Pastor Larry Dorman officiating. Visitation will be on Wednesday, July 15, 2015 from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. at the Cease Family Funeral Home Chapel in Bagley with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. and visitation will also be one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be at the Bagley City Cemetery in Bagley, MN.
Kelly was born July 7th, 1964 to Gerald & Doreen (Shegrud) Smith in Northwood, ND where they lived for a short time before moving back to the Bagley area where he resided for the remainder of his life. Kelly attended and graduated from Bagley High School in 1982. In April of 1985 Kelly married Sheila Smith. Together they raised 4 children. Ryan, Kayla, Roman & Kole. Later on, from doing foster care, Casey Haltli became their 5th child in 2006 whom they raised as their own.
Kelly worked for Northwood Panelboard in Solway, MN from 1983-1993 when he quit to buy his own truck and became self-employed starting Kelly Smith Trucking. He hauled wood for many years and helped his father and brother in their logging business. He worked briefly in 2000-2001 and again in 2013-2014 for DMS Health Technologies pulling MRI and CT Scanners with his own truck. In 2008 Kelly headed to ND with Roman & Kole to drive truck in the oil fields, hauling oil and water and mechanic work. After working for a couple of different companies he sub-contracted to MBI Logistics to whom he is still contracted to today. Sheila moved out there to be with him in 2009 where they resided until moving back to Bagley in the fall of 2012. He loved the Stanley area and made many, many lifelong friends. He was active in River of Life Church in Stanley. In moving back to Bagley, Kelly again put his truck to work for DMS and also hauled wood up until a few months of his death.
Kelly was a loving and devoted husband, father and grandfather. He always put his family first and they were his pride and joy. He made each grandchild feel like they were the most important. And he had a special way with babies! He always made himself available if Sheila or the kids needed him for anything. Over the years he loved spending weekends with his family out on the lake, waterskiing and tubing and just having fun. He took his family on several vacations in the summers. And packing up the kids and just spontaneously going for a drive in the woods, he loved the buckboards. He also loved 4-wheeling, especially with his special friend & uncle Owen in the swamps and getting muddy. It was always an added bonus when the kids could go with. He always wanted his grandchildren to enjoy his passion of ATVs, making sure they had little 4wheelers and go-carts to enjoy. Another passion he enjoyed was his classic cars...something he has always wanted and was able to finally get a couple in the past few years. He loved just being home, in his shop keeping it neat and in order. He was known for always keeping his truck and vehicle clean.
Every single one of his kids were here for him. Ryan and Roman and their families both moved back to Bagley to be near him and help him with whatever he needed. Kole kept the trucking end going so Kelly knew his truck was working, Ryan drives it. Roman made sure the trucks were taken care of and made repairs as needed. Kayla came home from Big Lake to help with his care and be his special "nurse". Casey was available to do what ever was needed. ALL of the kids spent endless nights at home with him and at the hospital when he was there for a few days just being by his side, helping him get up to walk the halls to help with whatever made him feel better. He was so loved and will be missed by everyone who knew and loved him.
He is survived by his wife, Sheila of Bagley. Son-Ryan(Casey) Smith, of Bagley & 3 children, Keiden, Kolton and Korbin. Daughter-Kayla (Justin) Stukenholtz of Big Lake, MN & 4 children, Ryker,Conner, Trevor and Brystal. Son-Roman (Chelsea) Smith of Bagley, and 3 children Peyton, Paxton & Paisley. Son- Kole (Anna) Smith of Bagley and 2 children, Kyrie & Brycen. Daughter,Casey Haltli of Bagley, MN. Parents Gerald and Doreen Smith of Bagley, Mother-in-law Bev Madden of Detroit Lakes, MN. Sister-Natalie (Jerry ) Olson of Bagley, MN. Sister-Valerie Wallingford of Bemidji, MN. Brother- Kevin Smith of McEwen, TN. Sister-in-law, Stacy (Todd) Bannor of LaPorte, MN. Brother-in-law Dustin Hagen of Bagley, MN. Sister-in-law, Nicole Hagen of Motley, MN. Brother-in-law, Gilbert (Carmen) Smith of Clarkston, WA. Brother-in-law, Cody (Staci) Smith of Culdesac, ID. And numerous nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Marvin and Margaret Smith. Maternal grandparents, Dudley and Norman Shegrud. Father-in-law Steve Smith. Aunts and Uncles.
Messages of condolence may be sent to www.ceasefuneralhome.com
