Kenneth Eugene (Genie) Smith, 90

Kenneth Eugene Smith, 90, of Hayden, Idaho, passed at the North Idaho Hospice House on May 2, 2016, from heart disease. Kenneth was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, April 7, 1926, to W. Clyde and Erma Middlemiss Smith. Four years later, Ken’s mother died at the birth of his sister, Joyce. He and his brother, Clyde, and baby Joyce were cared for by loving aunts until their father married Nellie Crabbe and they settled into a home.

Ken graduated from East High School in June 1943 and was drafted into the Army Air Force in July. Because of his remarkable mechanical ability he was trained to service the new airplane models as they came into the force and he was never assigned to a unit.

When the war in the Pacific ended, he re-upped and was sent to Japan. Because Ken was tall and handsome General MacArthur marked Ken for the general’s honor guard. Ken politely refused and began duty with the 3rd Emergency Rescue Squadron stationed in Japan. We often wonder how many men were brave enough to tell MacArthur “no.”

Three months later Ken was involved in a horrific plane crash that killed five of the nine-man crew. Ken survived but spent the next nine months in hospitals. He never fully recovered from the accident but silently suffered the pain. He graduated from a technical school in Kansas City to become a nationally certified heavy equipment mechanic and went to work at Tooele Army Depot west of Salt Lake City.

In 1952, he met and married Mary Langer. They had two boys and Ken took to parenthood and family life like nothing else in his life before. As a family, they gardened, camped, vacationed in historic places and every October the three boys hunted. They enjoyed much success and worked hard afterward to preserve the meat for the winter. They hunted together every fall for many years.

Mary finished her university work and began teaching. Ken, always an excellent cook, took over some family duties and life rolled along.

Along with successful family life, Ken kept being promoted in his job until he was taken out of the shops and placed in high level management positions. Finally, however, the stress of management increased the severity of old pains which he had suffered silently. After 31 years at Tooele, he retired at age 50. In 1976, he and Mary moved to a small farm in Albion, Idaho. Mary taught school in Burley and Ken became active in the American Legion, gardened and thoroughly enjoyed the slower pace of life.

The boys married and Ken had grandchildren to enjoy.

Though he had always supported and been a part of his sons’ lives in church activities, now he could devote even more time to church and community activities.

Michael’s children were in North Idaho and when Mary retired she and Ken moved to Leisure Park in Hayden. Once more they had grandchildren to love and play with.

The couple was called on a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints mission working with the employment service. They loved serving together and did so for 14 years, until Ken’s health again began to fail. This time, he didn’t recover and spent the final years of his life housebound.

Ken will be missed by many, especially his family. He was a longtime member of the Albion American Legion post where he served community and church. He was a loving husband, father, mentor, teacher and friend and we all were blessed to have him in our lives.

Ken was preceded in death by his older brother, Clyde Middlemiss Smith; and sister Joyce Erma Gustaveson.

Survivors include his wife, Mary, of 64 years; sons Kenneth (Sue) of Wanship, Utah, and Michael (Sandra) of Loveland, Colo.; grandchildren Leslie Smith Seehusen and great-grandson Zane Carter Seehusen of Salt Lake City, Heather Smith Hoffmeister of Knoxville, Tenn. Larissa Krocian Langersmith of Hydesville, Calif., and Seth John Langersmith of Spokane, Wash.; nieces and a nephew Gail Joyce Gustaveson Cotter of Taylorsville, Utah; Kim Joyce Smith Scott of Seattle, Wash., and Layne (Nancy) Smith of Canal Winchester, Ohio.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, May 10, 2016, at the LDS Chapel, 2393 W. Hanley Ave., Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Hospice of North Idaho, 9493 N. Government Way, Hayden, ID 83835 or the charity of your choice.

There will be a military service and internment at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 14, 2016, at the Utah Veteran’s National Cemetery.

Please visit Ken’s online memorial and sign his guest book at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.