James William Smith was born at Hazel Run, Minnesota, on December 21, 1919, the son of Harry D. and Beatrice (York) Smith. He grew up in the Clarkfield area and graduated from Clarkfield High School in 1937. He entered the U.S. Army on October 28, 1942, and served overseas in the Pacific until April 8, 1946. After his discharge, he and his family lived in Madison, Minnesota, for five years until he was recalled into the army with the 47th Infantry Division, Minnesota National Guard. He served overseas in Korea, Japan and Europe and retired from Active Duty on August 31, 1968, at Ft. Bliss, Texas. He and his wife Margaret, the former Margaret Bengtson of Canby, Minnesota, have continued to live in El Paso, Texas, since his retirement and were frequent summer visitors to Minnesota. He passed away July 16, 1978, at Alexandria, Minnesota, at age 58. Survivors include his wife, Margaret; daughter, Carol Barrington of Silver City, New Mexico; son, James W. Smith of Arlington, Texas; seven grandchildren: Gail Kemery and Beverly Widener of El Paso, Texas, Jana, Linda, Shelby and Tamara of Silver City, New Mexico, and Jamie Smith of Ft. Worth, Texas; mother, Beatrice Smith of Clarkfield; one brother, Harold E. Smith of Clarkfield; five sisters: Pansy Elliott of Minneapolis, Eileen Stensrud of Clarkfield, Florence Bruns of Porter, Minnesota, Eldora Walker of Sandy Creek, New York, and Bea Silver of St. Paul; and numerous nieces and nephews. IN MEMORY OF LTC (Ret.) JAMES WILLIAM SMITH December 21, 1919 ~ July 16, 1978 Funeral Services Wednesday, July 19, 1978, 11:00 a.m. United Methodist Church, Clarkfield, Minnesota Officiating, Rev. Harris Halstad Organist, Mrs. Harold Forsberg Soloist, Loren Norgaard Casket Bearers James Kompelien ~ Ronnie Miller Alan Miller ~ Harry Smith Jerry Miller ~ Richard Smith Funeral Service at Texas Fort Bliss Center Chapel Friday, July 21, 1978, 10:15 a.m. Officiating, Chaplain Art Solem Final Resting Place Fort Bliss National Cemetery El Paso, Texas A PRAYER FOR COMFORT O God, who heals the broken heart, and binds up their wounds: look in tender pity and compassion upon us whose joy has been turned into mourning. O leave us not comfortless, and grant that we may be drawn closer to You and to one another by our common sorrow. Fill our souls with the light and comfort of Thy presence. Help us by Your grace that we may die daily unto sin and live according to Your holy will, so that when our last hour shall come, we may be prepared for a peaceful departure. So dwell with us and be our God, until the day breaks and the shadows flee away. Amen. I CORINTHIANS 15:51-58 Listen to this secret: we shall not all die, but in an instant we shall all be changed, as quickly as the blinking of an eye, when the last trumpet sounds. For when it sounds, the dead will be raised immortal beings, and we shall all be changed. For what is mortal must clothe itself with what cannot die. So when what is mortal has been clothed with what cannot die, the Scripture will come true: "Death is destroyed; victory is completed. Where, O Death, is your victory? Where, O Death, is your power to hurt?" Death gets its power to hurt from sin, and sin gets its power from the Law. But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ! So then, my dear brothers, stand firm and steady. Keep busy always in your work for the Lord, since you know that nothing you do in the Lord's service is ever without value. Arrangements by Lynner Funeral Home Since 1891 Clarkfield Minnesota