Larry K. Smart
Obituary
Soldotna and former longtime Anchorage resident Larry K. Smart died Monday, June 28, 2004, at the home of his daughter and son-in-law in Soldotna, due to lung cancer. He was 67.
Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, July 10, at American Legion Post No. 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. He graduated from Nashwauk High School in Nashwauk, Minn. He entered the U.S. Marine Corps on Feb. 2, 1954, and received his honorable discharge Feb. 1, 1957. Mr. Smart continued serving in the Marine Corps Reserves until 1962. While in the Marines, he trained to be a heavy equipment operator.
Mr. Smart moved to Alaska in June 1964. He was a member of the Operating Engineers Union Local 302. For a number of years, he was the owner and 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 of 1992.
One of Mr. Smart's accomplishments was building the ski jump at the Hilltop Ski Area. He enjoyed watching boxing, going snowmachining, and his two granddaughters always brought a smile to his face.
"Larry was very hard-working and was happiest when he was digging in the dirt. He will be missed by all who knew him," his family said.
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 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, Joy Sanders of Anoka, Minn., and Melody Lesetmoe of Ham Lake, Minn.
Memorial contributions may be sent to Hospice of the Central Peninsula, P.O. Box 2584, Soldotna, AK 99669.
Arrangements were made by Peninsula Memorial Chapel.