Navorska tree » William Martin "Bill" "Billie" (William Martin "Billy" "Bill" "Billie") "Billy" Smith (1930-2021)

Personal data William Martin "Bill" "Billie" (William Martin "Billy" "Bill" "Billie") "Billy" Smith 

• Nickname is Billy.
• He was born on April 3, 1930 in Buffalo Ctr., Winnebago Co., IA.
• Resident:
• on April 3, 2007: Buffalo Ctr., Winnebago Co., IA.Source 1
• on December 27, 2007: Buffalo Ctr., Winnebago Co., IA.
• on January 3, 2011: Buffalo Ctr., Winnebago Co., IA.
• He died on November 17, 2021 in Ankeny, Polk Co., IA (The Bridges), he was 91 years old.
• A child of Johann Wilhelm Schmidt and Grace Dorenbush
• This information was last updated on November 29, 2021.

Household of William Martin "Bill" "Billie" (William Martin "Billy" "Bill" "Billie") "Billy" Smith

He is married to Elsie Loreen Drake.

They got married on January 11, 1958 at First Cong. Chr., Buffalo Ctr., Winnebago Co., IA, he was 27 years old.

Billy Smith oo Elsie Drake

Marriage source: Author: N.N. (anonymous), Title: GEDCOM file loaded ix Mar MMI for name = Living Smith married Living Drake

Author: Leibrand, Ruth, et. al., Title: «u»Celebrate a Century Buffalo Center, Iowa Centennial 1892 - 1992«/u», (Publication location: Buffalo Center IA, Publisher: Centennial Book Committee, Publication date: MCMXCII), pg. 406, Repository: Dallas TX Pub. Lib.

"... Billy [SMITH] works as a carpenter, married Elsie Drake ..."

Buffalo Center (Iowa) Tribune, Vol 116 # 42, 27 Dec 2007, pg 3 cols 5 & 6

"Smith's to Celebrate 50th Anniversary On January 12

Bill and Elsie (Drake) Smith of Buffalo Center were married January 11, 1958 at First Congregational Church."
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Child(ren):

1. (Not public)
2. (Not public)
3. (Not public)
4. Jean Marie Smith  1963-2011

Notes about William Martin "Bill" "Billie" (William Martin "Billy" "Bill" "Billie") "Billy" Smith

William Martin "Billy" "Bill" "Billy N." "Billie" "Bill M" Smith

Sources: Author: NN (Anonymous) Title: GEDCOM file loaded ix Mar MMI for name = Living Smith

Author: Leibrand, Ruth, et. al., Title: «u»Celebrate a Century Buffalo Center, Iowa Centennial 1892 - 1992«/u», (Buffalo Center IA, Centennial Book Committee, MCMXCII), pg. 406, Repository: Dallas TX Pub. Lib.

"... Billy [SMITH] works as a carpenter, married Elsie Drake who works in the Farmer's Trust and Savings Bank of Buffalo Center, and they have two sons and two daughters: Cindy lives in Minneapolis and works at Maranatha Nursing Home,Randy married Judy Enderson and they have a son Johathan and reside in Buffalo Center, Daniel lives in Des Moines and works as a computer programmer, Jean lives in Ames and coaches girls basketball in Nevada."

Obituaries, Buffalo Ctr. (Iowa) Tribune, Vol 116 # 5, 12 Apr 2007, pg. 4, col. 3

"John W. Smith, 85

John William Smith 85, of Mason City, died Tuesday, April 3, 2007 at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City. ...
...
John was born August 24, 1921 in Buffalo Center, the son of John W. and Grace (Dorenbusch) Smith. ...
...
John is survived by ... one brother, Billie Smith and his wife, Elsie, of Buffalo Center; ..."

Buffalo Center (Iowa) Tribune, Vol 116 # 42, 27 Dec 2007, pg. 3 cols. 5 & 6

"Smith's to Celebrate 50th Anniversary On January 12

Bill and Elsie (Drake) Smith of Buffalo Center were married January 11, 1958 at First Congregational Church.

The couple will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary with an open house on Saturday,"

[col 6]

"January 12 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. with a program at 2:30 at Congregational Church in Buffalo Center. All friends and relatives are invited. The couple requests no gifts, please.

The event will be hosted by their children, Cindy Smith, Randy and Judy Smith and children Jonathan, Rachel, Joy, Rebekah and Jennifer, Dan Smith and Jean Smith."

Buffalo Center [IA] Tribune, 65th Year, # 38, 23 Jan 1958, Pg. 4, Cols. 2 & 3

[Col. 2]

"Elsie Drake, Billy N. Smith Exchange Wedding Vows

The First Congregational church in Buffalo Center was the scene of the wedding of Miss Elsie Loreen ,Drake and Billy M. Smith on Saturday evening, January 11, 1958. Mrs. Smith, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lester Drake and Mr. Smith isthe son of Mr. and Mrs. John W. Smith, all of Buffalo Center.

Rev. John D. Engels, the pastor, performed the single ring ceremony before an altar decorated with baskets of double white stock's, blue iris and Oregon fern along wth vthe seven branch candelabra. Mrs. Dallas Davids, organist, played thenuptial music and accompanied Gary Honken who sang, "The Wedding Prayer" and "The Lord's Prayer".

The bride's gown was floor length with a fitted chantilly lace bodice of lace and sequin trimmed, a Peter Pan collar and long sleeves coming to a point at the wrists. The full skirt was double nylon tulle net over shimmering taffeta. Theouter skirt was draped up and held in place by satin bows. The fingertip length lace trimmed imported French illusion veil was held in place with a half hat trimmed with lace and sequins. She carried a nosegay of ruffled red roses withpearl trim and long satin streamers. Her gift from the bridegroom was a double strand of pearls of double pearls.

The bride was attended by her sister, Mrs. Roger Anderson of Bemidji, Minnesota as matron of honor. Her gown was waltz length of royal blue chiffon velvet and she carried a nosegay of white pompons with touches of leather leaf. She alsowore a matching headpiece.

Cheryl Higbee, daughter of Mr and Mrs. Gerald Higbee was flower girl, wearng a royal blue chiffon velvet gown with matching headpiece and carrying basket of white carnations. Timmy Heitland, son of Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Heitland carried thering on a white satin pillow.

The bridegroom was attended by James Heitland of Lehigh. The ushers were Howard Drake of Elmore, 'Minnesota and Harry Honken. Mark Smith and Leslie Drake were candle lighters.

Mrs. Harry Honken was dining room hostess to the 100 guests at"

[Col. 3]

"the reception held in the church parlors following the ceremony. A royal blue and white color scheme was carried out and also decorated the three tiered wedding cake that was topped with wedding bells, doves and a miniaure bride and groom. Mrs. Ed Heitland cut and served the cake. Mrs. Howard Drake registered the guests, Mrs. Jack Brevaart of Estherville and Mrs. Alfred Heitand poured, DonnaHeitland, Mrs. Cletus Turnbaugh and Mrs. Gerald Higbee opened and diislayed the gifts and Miss Phyllis Fleming of Cedar Rapids and Violet Davids were waitresses.

The bride's mother wore a grey dress with navy accessories and the bridegroom's mother, a navy dress and both had corsages of ruffled red roses.

For her going away Mrs. Smith wore a dark blue-grey dress with angora trim and black accessories. They will be at home in the Armstrong residence in the west part of town following a week's honeymoon.

Mrs. Smith is a graduate of the Buffalo Center Community school, attended Iowa State college at Ames of one year and has been employed at the Farmers's Trust and Savings Bank the past four and half years. The bridegroom also graduatedfrom the Buffalo Center school, worked for the Honken Implement before he entered the U.S. Navy. Since his discharge, he has been employed at the Buffalo Center Co-operative Creamery. -Photo by Russel Studio"

Author: Marshall, Vickie, Title: e-mail to David A. Navorska regarding Albers/Smith, (Publication location: Meno Vly., CA, Publisher: VSAM, Publication date: xv Mar MMXII)

"... census info for 1900 & 1910, info from William and Elsie (Drake) Smith that they received from Marian (Smith) Heitland years back, and a great great grandchild of Senna.

John Smith (3550) b 2-27-1884 William (Billy) Smith (14480) b 4-3-1930 (Billy provided info to me) ..."

Editor: Shaw, Andrew; Title: "Obituaries Billy Smith," (Publication location: Buffalo Ctr., IA, Publisher: Buffalo Center (Iowa) Tribune, Publication date: xxiv Nov MMXXI), Vol. 131 # 47, Pg. 7, Col. 2.

"Billy Smith 1930 - 2021

Billy Smith, age 91, of Buffalo Center, passed away after a full and blessed life, surrounded by kids and grandkids and great-grandkids in his last two years, on Wednesday, November 17, 2021, at The Bridges in Ankeny. A memorial service will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, November 24, 2021 at Ankeny Funeral Home, 1510 West First Street, Ankeny. Visitation was held Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.

Billy Martin Smith was born on April 3, 1930, in Buffalo Center, the son of John and Grace Smith. He grew up in the town that he was always proud of, graduating from Buffalo Center High School in 1948. Following high school, he was in the Navy, sailing from Washington, to Hawaii, then through the Panama Canal, and on to the East Coast-an experience that gave him a lifetime of memories. On January 11, 1958, he married the love of his life, his sweetie, Elsie Drake. They were united in marriage at the First Congregational Church in Buffalo Center, where they lived their entire married lives in the house that Dad built. They raised three wonderful children… and me. Mom and Dad both served faithfully in the church for decades, their love for Jesus oh, so evident.

Billy Smith wore many, many "hats." True, he collected many caps— a Hawkeye one, one from Texas, and one from Washington, D.C. were his favorites - but I'm talking about all the jobs he had over the years. And he had at least a hundred stories with each one. He hauled milk, cream, gravel, and mail. He told of keeping the cream can between him and some farm dogs, using it as a shield. He spoke of guys at the creamery licking their hands after wrapping up the butter. He had lots of stories of his brother Johnny and the gravel truck, saying the hydraulic arm to raise the bed "wasn't strong enough to pull your hat off." One of his favorite stories about the mail route was when he asked Clarence Bond what time "the Star Carrier" would get to Buffalo from Algona. Clarence went on for twenty minutes, then said, "Go ask Dick" (one of his coworkers).

The hat he wore the most was that of carpenter. He worked in the good ol' days, when the carpenter did everything from pouring the foundation, laying block, setting up studs, shingling, hanging sheet rock, and nailing on the finish trim. I worked with Dad fourteen straight summers, through my high school, college, and grad school years, and we laughed all the way through - Jeff Heitland singing "Blue Velvet" endlessly, one guy who hired us following behind and picking up every nail we dropped, and the time his overalls ripped, right when the school bus dropped off a load of kids.

Dad's most famous hat was probably that of fisherman. So many stories. Catching two bass at the same time on one jig. Holding up a Northern that was taller than Cindy. Many trips up North, to "Blowstring,"with the three greatest cooks of all time - Oma Grace, Aunt Bess, and Aunt Rose. With Harry and Aete, and Dort and Al. Stories of heaping plates of fish, and everyone full to the gills, but "Gary took another one," and so on and so on, until they were all gone. He had this amazing way of jerking the pole, and setting the hook, and reeling 'em in. TV-3 caught him at Crystal Lake one time, and he told them it's all in the jigging. When he was on the lake, he had such a great supply of patience that he could wait all day. On the road, in a store… uh, not so much.

Dad was a Deacon, or a Trustee, at the First Congregational Church in Buffalo Center for more years than most of you have been alive. He loved the Lord and came to love studying the Bible. Dad was never what you would call a great student - he said many times that the only reason he went to high school was to play football. But Les Feldick was his favorite Bible teacher, and Dad loved how Les opened the Scriptures, and he studied a lot more in his latter years than he ever did as a high schooler. Fisherman, carpenter, football player, Deacon - he even was a gravedigger. Dad wore many hats. But his best one was that of father. He was the greatest dad a kid could ever want, full of songs, and laughter, and stories… oh, so many stories… but most of all, full of love - love for the Lord, love for his kids (he loved us to pieces), and love for Mom. He missed her so, so much these past couple of years. And now he is with her again.

Billy is survived by his children, Cindy Smith of Minneapolis, MN, Randy (Judy) Smith of Ankeny, Dan (Diana) Smith of Urbandale; grandchildren, Jonathan (Vanessa) Smith of Nevada, Rachel (Colton) Willey of Polk City, Joy Smith of West Des Moines, Bekah Smith and Jen Smith of Ankeny; six great-grandchildren, Stephen, Zekeriah, Ellia, William, Blaine, and Taya; and many nieces, nephews, and friends beyond count - basically, everyone who met him.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Elsie; his daughter, Jean Smith; his parents; and his siblings, Johnny Smith, Margaret Honken, Marion Heitland, and Dorothy Heitland. See ya later, Dad.

Ankeny Funeral Home in Ankeny is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.dignitymemorial.com

Services: 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 24 at Ankeny Funeral Home
Visitation: 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 23 Ankeny Funeral Home ... 515-964-4674"
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