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Keenan Harry Smith • 1919 - 2002 Keenan Harry Smith, 82, 804-14 ½ Ave. SW, Minot, retired teacher in the Minot Public Schools, died Tuesday in a Minot hospital. He was born Oct. 13, 1919, in Superior, WI, to Robert and Clare (Farrell) Smith. He was reared and educated in Superior and graduated from East High School there. He went to work for the Great Lakes and Great Northern Railroad, and on September 15, 1942, he married Marjorie "Marjie" Flesvig in Paterson, NJ. In 1942, he entered the U.S. Army and served in the European Theater during World War II. Following his discharge in 1945, he returned to Superior. He attended Superior State College, graduating with a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1947. He later returned to SSC, where he received his Master of Education Degree in 1954. In the fall of 1947, he and his family moved to Minot. He began his teaching career that year in the Science Department at Minot High School, teaching biology, advanced biology and geology. He also attended North Dakota State University, Fargo, and the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, to further his education in the field of biology. He taught in the Minot Public Schools for 40 years, retiring on May 29, 1987. Throughout his long career, he was active in a number of school-related groups. He served as high school faculty advisor for three years, was the advisor for the Usherette Club at Minot High School, and was a member of the National Science Teachers Association, the North Dakota Education Association and the National Education Association. In 1975, he was selected by Minot High School to participate in the Outstanding Secondary Educators of America awards program. A serious outdoorsman, he was recognized by the North Dakota Park Service for his interest in the North Dakota Badlands. A favorite project of his - one he pursued for 14 years - was to take his students on field trips to the Badlands. He also spent 15 summers working on the Sawfly Control Project for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Experiment Station. He spent a lot of time in his back yard studying the birds there. He was a fisherman, and enjoyed reading, traveling, and spending time with his family. More than anything, he loved ballroom dancing with his beloved wife Marjie. He was a charter member of Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church and a former member of St. Leo's Catholic Church, both of Minot. In 1934, he joined the Holy Name Society in Superior. He was a member and officer of the society at both Our Lady of Grace and St. Leo's churches. He had been a member of the Knights of Columbus since 1942, and at the time of his death, was a member of Minot KC Council 4894. He was past grand knight of Council 1180. He was a member of the American Legion and a former member of Minot Elks Lodge 1089. Survivors: wife, Marjorie "Marjie"; children, Paul (Tori) Smith, Brownsville, OR, Thomas (Theresa) Smith, Port Orchard, WA, Catharine (Donald) Windmueller, Minot, Mary Clare Smith, Minot, and John (Lola) Smith, Columbus, OH; nine grandchildren, Steven (Kristina) Windmueller, Clare Marie (Jeffrey) Jacobson, Bryan (Marnie) Smith, Keenan Otis Smith, Matthew Windmueller, Zachary Smith, Amelia Green, Mara Smith, and Hannah Smith; six great-grandchildren, Keenan Windmueller, Morgan Windmueller, Elizabeth Jacobson, Isabelle Smith, Rebecca Jacobson, and Katarina Smith; brothers, Rodney (Gertrude) and Donald Smith, all of Chicago, IL. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Father Paul Smith. Funeral: Saturday at 9 a.m. at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, Minot. Prayer Service: Friday at 7 p.m. at Thompson-Larson
Funeral Home, Minot. Burial: Rosehill Memorial Park, Minot Celebrant Of The Liturgy: Father Gene Lindemann Music: "Day Is Done", "My Shepherd,
Lord", "Precious Lord Take My Hand", "Those
Who See Light" Active Bearers: Flip Bernsdorf , Jerry Cushing, Dick Muus, Raymond Skorheim, Clay Rein, LeRoy Schmidt Honorary Bearers: Keenan's family, friends and former students |