John Smith

John Lyle Smith, son of Harry and Bertha (Engesser) Smith, was born on November 7, 1933, at Tracy, Minnesota. He died on Wednesday, September 11, 2013 at the St. Williams Living Center in Parkers Prairie, Minnesota. John was baptized at St. Mary?s Catholic Church in Tracy. The family moved to St. James when John was a boy. He attended Butterfield School and was confirmed at St. James Catholic Church. John enlisted in the United States Navy in 1952 and served the next four years during the Korean War. He was stationed out of Newport, Rhode Island and spent time on the Cascade. He met and married Grace Ogilvie and the couple was blessed with six children. John worked in the Auto Body Shop in Rhode Island and later moved to Walnut Grove, Minnesota where he farmed. He went back into Auto Body repair business and when he moved to Alexandria he started Smith?s Auto Body. John met and married Jacqueline (Kloehn) Lybeck in 1984. John continued to operate his shop after their marriage and in 1987 the couple sold the business. He then drove school bus until his retirement. John was an avid fisherman along with his wife. He also loved to hunt and be in the great outdoors. He is survived by his wife, Jacqueline; five children: Laurie Smith, Wayne & Becky Smith, Cindy & Ricky Buck, Delores Socall, Carrie McBee, all of Rhode Island; step daughter, Laura Swenson of Evansville, Indiana; 11 grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren; sisters: Cleone Flynn of Plainsview, Madonna&ErlandJablinski of Hutchinson, Connie &Glenroy Berndt of St. James; brothers: Duane of Walnut Grove, Robert & Norma of Kandiyohi, Dennis &Movanne of Portsmouth, Virginia; several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, sister, Marcella; brothers: Leo, Vincent; son, Lyle; grandson, Jason Smith. Funeral service was held on Monday, September 16, 2013, 11:00 a.m. at St. John?s Lutheran Church in Garfield with Rev. Benjamin Schimm. Burial was at St. John?s Cemetery. Arrangements were with the Anderson Funeral Home.