Forrest D. Smeltzer, 83, Cando, ND, passed away Thursday, May 17, 2012, at his home after a lengthy illness. Services will be held on Monday, May 21, 2012 at 2:00 pm at Christian Fellowship Church, Cando, ND, with Rev. Les Koenig officiating. Visitation will be held at the Dunnigan-Dix Funeral Home on Sunday, May 20, 2012 from 1 to 5 pm and for one hour prior to the service at the church.  Music will be from Roberta Mundal, Wayne Freund and Marguerite Freund.  Pallbearers will be Harlynn Bjerke, Edward Walters, Bruce Lewallen, Thomas Belzer, Marc Berg and Simon Laturnus. Interment will be at the I.O.O.F. Cemetery in Cando.

Forrest Dale Smeltzer was born October 25, 1928 in Cando, ND to Rev. Willard and Mary Emily (Klinzman) Smeltzer.  He was raised on the family farm in Olson Township.  He attended Prairie Rose Country Grade School and graduated from Cando High School.  At the age of 16, he took over the farming responsibilities after the death of his father.  On June 8, 1951 he was united in marriage to Jacqueline (Jackie) Gunderson of Maza, ND.  To this union, a son, Kelly Don, was born on October 23, 1959.  Forrest and Kelly enjoyed working and farming together.  In his sixty-seven years of farming, he loved working the soil, raising beef cattle and for thirty of those years milked Brown Swiss dairy cattle.  Forrest and Jackie continued to live on the family farm.

Forrest enjoyed many years of hunting, fishing, camping with his family, music, singing in church, working with animals, family pets, gardening, raising roses and prided himself on the ability to shoot accurately with his iron sights until the age of eighty.  Later in life he learned to play the banjo and the harmonica.  Many winter evenings were spent making music with his family.  He enjoyed visiting with neighbors and friends over a cup of coffee when they would stop by.   Forrest was a lifelong member of the former Cando Church of The Brethren where he served on many boards and taught adult bible study. He also served on the Towner County ASCS Board along with being the Olson Township Assessor for many years.

He is survived by his wife of sixty years, Jackie Smeltzer and his son, Kelly Smeltzer, both of Cando, ND. He was preceded in death by his parents; and his father and mother-in-law Howard and Myrtle Gunderson.


Condolences:

Jackie and Kelly, our thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time.

Dave and Bill Steele



I am sorry, Jackie & Kelly.  Know the last few years have not been easy for you.  My thoughts and prayers are with you.  Take care.

Connie Martz



I send my sincerest sympathies on the loss of this wonderful man. Anytime I think of him, I see his huge smile. I don't think I ever saw him NOT smile!

Marilyn Morgan Holzerland