William Charles Smith was born on June 18th, 1945, third son of Marie Pereau Smith and Wilfred (“Puss”) Smith. The family grew with the birth of a daughter after the sad death of their first son, who died of a brain tumor. The family lived on Wolf Creek, west of the town of Wolf Point.
Bill attended Wolf Point High School, Shaddock Military School, and he graduated from Wolf Point High School, where he was a basketball star and still holds state basketball records to this day.
Bill grew up loving music, and Elvis Presley, Patsy Cline, Nancy Sinatra, and Dean Martin were among his favorites.
Bill went to college in Billings for a while and then he went on to attend Dixie State University in St. George, Utah.
When Bill came home from St. George, he took firefighting training. He became a firefighter for the State of Montana and was sent to fight wildfires all over the West.
Bill settled in Wolf Point, where he enjoyed farming and ranching on land along Wolf Creek and the Missouri River.
Bill enjoyed sports of all types, basketball being his favorite, but he was a most avid fan of the Green Bay Packer Football team! The world stopped when his beloved Packers were playing!
On January 12, 2008, Bill was inducted into the Indian Basketball Hall of Fame, an honor of the highest order! Here are some of the incredible stats that Bill held. He was called one of the most pure shooters in Montana basketball history. He once boasted 47 points against the Glendive Red Devils, and that was after he’d been taken out of the game in the 3rd quarter! He is Wolf Point’s all-time leading scorer with 1362 points. He was a member of 2 state championships with the Wolves in ’61 and ’62. He was as good with a 10 – 15 foot hook shot as he was with a 10 – 15 foot jump shot!
Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Marie and “Puss”, his brothers, Wilfred and Ronnie, and his sister, Geri Ellen Smith Jensen (Duane Jensen). He is survived by his daughter, Jody Denison (Kent Denison), and her children, Brayden and Cameron Denison, of Denver, Colorado, 4 living cousins, Amber Smith Arndt of Wolf Point, Kermit and Larry Smith of Wolf Point, and Kay Dell Smith Ahern, of Scottsdale, AZ, plus many second cousins, nieces and nephews.
Bill Smith passed on to his Heavenly Home on January 29th, 2020 in a hospital room in Billings. He had fought a good fight for a long time, and in the end, Cancer took him. Bill had lived a full, happy life, doing just the things he enjoyed and spending time with the people he cared most about. Elsie King Hanson was one of the people he cared about most.
Service Schedule
Viewing
2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Friday February 7, 2020
Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel
102 Custer Street
Wolf Point, Montana 59201
Funeral Service
10:00 a.m.
Saturday February 8, 2020
First Presbyterian Church
400 Custer Street
Wolf Point, Montana 59201
Service Schedule
Viewing
2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Friday February 7, 2020
Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel
102 Custer Street
Wolf Point, Montana 59201
Funeral Service
10:00 a.m.
Saturday February 8, 2020
First Presbyterian Church
400 Custer Street
Wolf Point, Montana 59201
Bill Zimmerman says
Lost a very good friend on January 29th
Rest In Peace Brother will miss you at Stampede 😢
Pauline Azure-Feuvray says
May Bill rest in peace with his beloved relatives. Jeri was a classmate of mine and maybe she guided him to the spirit world or his parents; God bless the family.
chris bauer says
My deepest condolences to the Smith family.
Jim and Mary Nesbit says
Our Deepest Sympathies to the Family.
Karel L Schutt says
Rest in Peace, Bill. My condolences to the family and to Elsie. Our thoughts and prayer are with you.
Jenny Mohamed says
Rest in peace Bill an give Ronnie hugs from all of us♥️
Robert/Terry McAnally says
The McAnally’s would like to offer condolences to Bill’s family and friends. Marie and Puss have all their children with them in Heaven now—such joy.
Alice Christensen says
My thoughts and prayers go out to family,friends. I got to know Bill as he was one of the many of my customers at the Sherman. He is gone but never forgotten. RIP Bill will see you again someday.
Jeannie Archdale says
Elsie and family,
My thoughts and prayers are with each and every one of you, Andy, it was so nice to hear you tell stories of the times you and Bill would have over a pizza. Bob, I was so happy that you had such a good relationship with Bill. I am sure Bill could count on you just as the rest of us have over the years. Elsie, I am so happy Bill had a family to be part of his last years and was loved. I love you all, we are family so Bill is family.
Dale Buckles says
Rest In Peace my friend. Your Dad and my Dad were close friends and that made us family. You’ll be missed cuz.
Debra Mason says
R.I.P. Bill ,It was a pleasure knowing you May God bless your family
Raine Adams says
Billy you always took the time to talk to your relatives and joke around with us. We will miss you cousin
Donna Mann says
My deepest condolences to Bill’s family, friends and Elsie Hanson. He was a classmate of mine since grade school and also a good friend. Sorry I could not be there today for the funeral. R.I.P. Bill
Darlyn Grainger says
So sorry for your loss.
Brenda Iwen White says
Sincere condolences to Bill’s family and friends. He was a friend of my dads for many years. Rest In Peace.
Gay Pennington7 says
So sorry for the loss of Bill. Got to no him when Ronnie came pick up the boys at my moms. He was a very nice guy. Condolences to the family of Bill’s. Rest in Peace. From Gay (Stephanie) Pennington & Vivian Stephanie
Robert Bushly says
Rest In Peace Dad.
ROGER LYNN SHRADER says
BILL WAS 4 YEARS AHEAD OF ME IN HIGH SCHOOL – – HE ALWAYS TREATED ME NICE AND I WAS PROUD TO CALL HIM MY FRIEND IN THE FOLLOWING YEARS