Obituary of Arthur Arvid Smith

Arthur Arvid Smith, 96, of Cambridge passed away on Monday, April 29, 2019 at Ecumen Senior Living in North Branch.

            Arthur was born in Grandy, MN to Arvid and Ruth (Nordeen) Smith on August 30, 1922.  The family lived in Grandy, MN.  Art graduated from Cambridge High School in 1941 and then attended the University of Minnesota before enlisting in the US Army Armored Command, November 25, 1942.  He was stationed in Kentucky; Fort Knox and Camp Campbell.  During his training, he was licensed to drive light and medium tanks.  When he achieved marksman rating with a 30-caliber machine gun and rifle, he was assigned assistant driver for the Company Commanders Tank.  He married Lois Hovinen on November 23, 1944 in Stanchfield, MN just prior to being deployed to Europe during WWII with the 20^th Armor Division.  He received the Bronze Battle Star for the Battle at Munich.  He was honorably discharged in February 1946.

            When the war ended, Art and Lois made their home in Cambridge where they raised four children.  Art worked as an electrician for 33 years before retiring.  He was an active member of the IBEW, Local Union 110 for nearly 63 years.  After retiring from his electrical career, he worked part-time at the Cambridge Clinic for an additional 12 years.

            Art loved the outdoors and spent numerous hours hunting, fishing and snowmobiling.  He was quite skilled in many crafts and loved working on projects around his home and for family members.  Art enjoyed sports, especially Cambridge-Isanti Football.

            Art has been a member of First Baptist Church in Cambridge for 63 years.  He was an usher for many of those years and helped out with many special church projects.    

            Art was preceded in death by his parents, his wife of 71 years Lois Smith, sister Eleanor Carlson and her husband Thorsten, sister Dorothy Nelson and her husband Melvin. 

            He is survived by his children Barbara and husband Richard Johnson, Pauline and husband Bruce Swanson, Timothy and wife Julie Smith, Laurie and husband Craig West, 28 grandchildren, 23 great grandchildren, brother Paul G. and wife Maxine Smith, as well as many other relatives and friends.

            The family of Art wishes to extend sincere thanks to his caregivers at Ecumen Senior Living in North Branch, his doctors at Cambridge Medical Center as well as local law enforcement and paramedics.  All have been a great support.

            A devoted husband and provider for his family, Art will be remembered for always being there to help when needed.  He said “I have had a long and good life, survived the Depression, WWII, have seen many changes in the world, but most of all, I’m proud of my children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.”

A public visitation will be held from 5-8 PM, Friday, May 3, 2019 at Carlson-Lillemoen Funeral Home in Cambridge.  A private graveside service will be in Stanchfield Baptist Cemetery with Military Honors.  Memorials are preferred to First Baptist Church - Community Care.