ARRY K. SMART

Soldotna and former longtime Anchorage resident, Larry K. Smart, 67, died Monday, June 28, 2004, due to lung cancer, at the home of his daughter and son in-law in Soldotna.

Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, at the American Legion, Post 15, Outer Springer Loop in Palmer. A gathering will immediately follow the services at the Legion. Mr. Smart will be laid to rest next to his wife, Betty Smart, at the Angelus Memorial Park in Anchorage.

Mr. Smart was born Nov. 6, 1936, in Hill City, Minn., where he was raised and graduated from the Nashwauk High School in Nashwauk, Minn. He entered the U.S. Marine Corps on Feb. 2, 1954, and served until he received his honorable discharge on Feb. 1, 1957. Mr. Smart continued serving in the Marine Corps Reserves until 1962. While in the Marine Corps, Mr. Smart trained to be a heavy- equipment operator.

Mr. Smart moved to Alaska in June 1964 and was a member of the Operating Engineers Union, Local 302. For a number of years he was the owner & operator of Smart's Custom Concrete in Fairbanks and Smart Excavating in Anchorage. He also worked for Hermon Brothers Construction Co. off and on until he retired for medical reasons in June 1992.

One of Mr. Smart's accomplishments was building the ski jump at the Hilltop Ski Area. He enjoyed snowmachining and watching boxing, and his two granddaughters always brought a smile to his face.

The family wrote, "Larry was very hard-working and was happiest when he was digging in the dirt. He will be missed by all who knew him."

Mr. Smart was preceded in death by his wife of 42 years, Betty Smart; mother, Monica Smart; father, Kenneth Smart Sr. and brother, Kenny Smart Jr.

He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, LaRae and Todd Paxton of Soldotna; son, Ripp Smart of Anchorage; granddaughters, Jessica and Kasey Paxton, both of Soldotna; brothers, Gary Smart of Palmer, Herb Smart of Nashwauk, Minn., and Dar Smart of Anchorage; sisters, Mona Smith and Norma Link, both of Anchorage, Rae Kammermeyer of Hibbing, Minn., Sharon LeMere of Iron, Minn., Kay Campbell of Hibbing, Minn., Joy Sanders of Anoka, Minn. and Melody Lesetmoe of Ham Lake, Minn.

Memorial contributions may be sent to the Hospice of the Central Peninsula, P.O. Box 2584, Soldotna, AK 99669.

Arrangements were made by Peninsula Memorial Chapel.