Gordon B. Smith, 93, rural Maddock, ND passed away Sunday, August 25, 2019 at the Lutheran Home of the Good Shepherd in New Rockford, ND. Memorial Service will be at 2:00 PM Saturday, August 31, 2019 at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in rural Esmond, ND with Pastor Harold Ovre officiating.  Family and friends are invited to gather at the Maddock Community Center on Friday evening at 7:00 PM.  Burial will be in the Vasa Lutheran Cemetery, rural Esmond. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Vasa Lutheran Cemetery: 4379 46 ^th Street NE Esmond, ND 58332. Military Honors provided by Theodore A. Togstad American Legion Post #123 and the North Dakota Funeral Honors Team.

Gordon Bennis Smith was born August 1, 1926, on the farm in Isabel Township, to Albin and Gerda (Toso) Smith.  He grew up in the Isabel area and attended Isabel School. He graduated from Benson County Agricultural and Training School (BCATS) and boasted about playing basketball at the 1943 state tournament.  Gordon entered the US Navy in the fall of 1944 and was assigned to the Aircraft Carrier Saratoga and served until the end of WWII.  After his discharge, Gordon returned to the farm.  Coming back to the farm, he became active in the Farmers Union, where he met Helen Hansen, a Field Staff worker from the state office in Jamestown that caught his eye. They were married on October, 17, 1954 in Ryder, ND.

To this union was born the first batch of kids: Renee, Gary, Joann and Roger. Several years later, Gordon and Helen had their second batch. In precise Helen fashion, the pattern continued girl, boy, girl, boy, girl, boy with Paula & Scott, which brought the total to an even six.

Gordon loved his family and his extended Scandinavian family where his cousins were like brothers and sisters. Gordon was one of the original three Swedish Bikini Team members, so named at the 2007 Isabel Swede Reunion. Cousins Milton Erickson and Reuben Smith completed the team. Gordon was fortunate to have visited his grandparents' homeland of Sweden in 2008 with Roger's family.

Gordon was active in Toastmasters, VFW and several boards, including Maddock School Board, Benson County Coop Credit Union, Maddock Community Center and Baker Electric, and on and on to all of the usual church, township, co-op and other local boards. He was proud to have attended the Veteran's Honor Flight to Washington, DC.

After his wife, Helen, passed away in 1991, Gordon farmed until his retirement. He was active in family activities. He attended many of his grandchildren's and great-grandchildren's proms, sports and music performances all around the state. Gordon was a talker, a story-teller and had quite a sense of humor.

Gordon left this earth surrounded by family, still tapping his hands to music with a strong beat, mouthing the words to 'You Are My Sunshine' and smiling at the pretty girls.

Survivors include six children, Renee Becker of Bismarck, Gary Smith of Maddock, Joann (Stacy) Bergrud of Maddock, Roger (Eris) Smith of Minot, Paula (Gerry) Duren of Maddock, and Scott (Karri) Smith of Bismarck; 11 grandchildren, Lisa(Jerel) Brandt, Mitchell (Erin) Becker, Sara (Ross) Wilmes, Katie (Bryan) Fossen, Andrew Bergrud (Lacey Trzpuc), Noah Smith, Nash (Allie) Smith, Morgan Duren (Carl Klocke), Brooks Duren, Cole and Levi Smith; 10 great-grandchildren, Samuel, Gabriella and Isabell Brandt, Harper Becker, Alli and Bree Wilmes, Eli, Leah and Marcus Fossen and Bode Bergrud; sister-in-law, Carol Hansen.

He was preceded in death by his parents (he was 93 after all); wife, Helen; brother, Glenn; sister and brother-in-law, Joyce (Smith)  & Gerald Vallier; in-laws, Wayne Hansen & Mervyn and Bonnie Hansen; son-in-law, Steven Becker.