DELBERT L. SMITH

Longtime Alaskan resident and homesteader Delbert L. Smith, 75, died peacefully from diabetes complications on Dec. 28, 2003, at Providence Extended Care. Mr. Smith has been cremated.

A celebration of his life will take place at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 15, 2004, at Witzleben Bragaw Chapel, located at 1707 S. Bragaw St., Anchorage. The scattering of his ashes will take place at a later date.

Delbert was a retired Fireman Engineer with the Alaska Railroad and retired with 33 years of service. He served in the U.S. Army from 1946-1948 and was stationed in Mannheim, West Germany.

Mr. Smith was born Feb. 15, 1928, in Orange, Texas. He spent his youth in DeQuincy, La.

In 1946, Delbert enlisted in the U.S. Army and achieved the rank of tech. sergeant, working in supplies and hosting military social events. While stationed in West Germany, he met and married Inge, his wife of 55 years.

They and his parents and four brothers headed north to Alaska in 1949, to pursue their dream of homesteading. Delbert found employment with the Alaska Railroad, along with his father and brothers. He retired from the Alaska Railroad in 1979, after which he worked with his brother, David L. Smith, in his sprinkler fitting business for three years. Following his retirement, Delbert resided in Houston, Alaska, on his homestead.

Retirement enabled Delbert to engage in his many passions: picking berries, tapping birch trees for their syrup, wine and liquor-making from berries he gathered, sharing his music with all who would listen, playing pinochle and cribbage at the Mid-Valley Senior Center, playing any game with his grandchildren, watching sports (especially baseball and football), and walking to Loon Lake. He also spent many hours volunteering at the Houston Mid-Valley Senior Center.

Delbert was preceded in death by his parents Noah and Eva Smith, brother Malcolm Smith and infant daughter Ruthie Smith.

The family said: "Dad loved children … whether it was his own, or his grandchildren or the kids in the neighborhood. After organizing some fun and games, he often would have every kid on the block bring a bowl and spoon and then have them each take a turn at cranking the old ice cream maker. He especially enjoyed big family gatherings … the more the merrier!"

He is survived by his wife Inge and nine children, Jo Ann Stromberg, Robert C. Smith, Gerald M. Smith, Mark A. Smith, Heidi M. Brown, all of Anchorage; Linda S. Childers, of Eagle River; Delbert L. Smith, Jr. of Carpentersville, Ill., Mary J. Nimer, of St. George, Utah, Tina L. Appel, of Portland, Ore.; and brothers, Noah Smith Jr. of De Quincy, La, David L. Smith, of Longview, Texas, and Louis Smith of Anchorage; his 27 grandchildren and his care-givers at Providence Extended Care, especially Helen Merkt.

Friends may send written memorials to Witzleben Funeral Home, Attn. Dennis Dawson at P.O. Box 140975, Anchorage, AK 99514-0975.