Joe Glen Smith Jr.

Joe Glen Smith, Jr. was born in Needles, Calif. on September 11, 1932. His parents were Joe Glen Smith, Sr. and Elizabeth Louise Stivers-Smith. He was raised in Helendale, Calif. on the Mojave Desert near Victorville, Calif. until his senior year of high school. He Joined the California National Guard, and was activated and served two years in Japan and Korea during the Korean War. Joe attended college at UCLA for his Bachelor's Degree, San Jose State for Master's Degree and Colorado State University for PhD. Mr. Smith came to Fort Collins in 1970 to CSU, fell in love with Fort Collins, and was a Realtor Broker for 34 years before retiring despite problems caused by Stage 4 cancers in 1998 and 2001. Although he was supposed to die by 2001 he defied the odds and lived until 2011. Before he was 30, Joe attended services at virtually every church type to see how they compared to his beliefs and how they answered his questions. He joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in 1989 when he married Frieda Miller. After she died he married Beverly Jean Rohde in the Denver Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint on November 8, 1997. Joe was a carefree, optimistic soul who loved people, whistling, music, dancing, science-fiction, travel, Las Vegas, and Disney World. Joe thought of himself as a good old Southern country boy. He wanted freedom to pursue his own experiences and worked many jobs at his own terms-research-assistant in aircraft adhesives, post office carrier, substitute teacher in high school math, chemistry and physics, and unloading trucks of furniture or staples for the Teamsters Union. Joe loved life and had a full and happy one. He had many friends throughout his life because of his strong commitment to being a trusted, nonjudgmental, caring, helpful friend. The first marriage at the age of 20 to Wilma Butler produced 2 wonderful children but postponed college until he was 28. His marriage to Frieda and to Beverly paired him with loving churchgoing women who returned him to the moral base of his youth and led him to the church for which he had searched. Joe's best male friend Harry Bud Seagondollar of Victorville, served with him during the Korean War. During their year in Japan, they climbed Mount Fujiyama, traveled all over Japan learning to speak Japanese and talking to village people and suffered the rigors of earthquakes and 25 mile marches in the freezing snowstorms; in Korea, they served together in the Heavy Weapons Platoon on the front lines the entire time. Joe tried to treat everyone with the same true feelings and compassion as he hoped to receive. He tried to set a good example by the way he met challenges and trials. Joe is survived by Beverly, his beloved wife, eternal companion, dance partner, and caregiver deluxe; Elzora Rose Thompson, his loving sister of Santa Cruz, Calif.; Cynthia Louise Kelley, his much loved daughter of Pryor, Okla., and Stephen Michael Smith of Spokane, Wash.; nine grandchildren; and twenty-three great-grandchildren. Joe has moseyed on down the tracks and awaits family and friends at the end of the line. Those who wish may view Mr. Smith from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday at Bohlender Funeral Chapel and at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 10:30 to 11:20 a.m. on Thursday. A Funeral Service will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 600 E. Swallow. An Interment will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday at Riverview Cemetery in Tremonton, Utah. Friends may send condolences to the family at bohlenderfuneralchapel.com