Marvin R. Smith, International Falls, Minn., passed away peacefully Tuesday, April 19, 2011, surrounded by family.
Born April 10, 1918, in De Smet, S.D., he was raised on the north shore of Lake Superior at Mineral Center.
He was a World War II veteran serving with the Army Air Corps-Eighth Air Force in France and Germany as an aircraft maintenance technician. He served to the end of the war. Marvin volunteered for the mop-up of Germany and was assigned a BAR, Browning Automatic Rifle, and walked or train-rode most of Germany.
Marvin served as the game warden for the State of Minnesota at Koochiching County in International Falls for 26 years. After retiring from the warden service, Marvin served as a state predator controller for problem animals in Koochiching County and made several yearly trips to Arkansas to control problem beavers.
He was well known for his abilities in the woods. His love for the outdoors was passed on to his children and grandchildren.
After covering nearly every square inch of Koochiching County, his family is sure he had personal names for all the animals he encountered. As a hunter and a trapper, Marvin had a very strong understanding and respect for northern Minnesota wilderness. He was always willing to explore and help other people enjoy the wilderness of Minnesota. His family said trying to stay with Marvin walking in the woods was a task; he was fast and efficient in the woods.
His remarkable ability to find things in the woods was often called upon to find lost hunters and sportsmen. If a person were in the woods or on Rainy Lake, Marvin usually knew where they were and how they were doing.
Marvin married LaVerne D. Erickson from Braham, Minn., on Aug. 30, 1942, while serving in the military. They raised four children in northern Minnesota: Michael (Laura), Anchorage, Alaska, Jody (Jerry) Weisz, International Falls, Minn., John, International Falls, Minn., and Kim, Anchorage, Alaska.
He was preceded in death by his wife, LaVerne in 1994; his parents, Pearl Cronkhite and Rodney Smith; sister, Fern; brothers, Harold, Reggie and Eddie; and second wife, Eva.
He is survived by his brother, Ted (Elsie) Smith, Grand Marais; stepchildren, Jodi and David; grandchildren, Michael Smith, Sarah Smith, Tony, Jerry, Chris Weisz and Samarah Smith; greatgrandchildren, Elizabeth, Kaitlyn, Jordin, Gavin, Taylor, Logan, Grace (to be born May 11, 2011), Cohen and Sylas.
A memorial service was held April 28 at First Lutheran Church, International Falls, with the Rev. Irv Arnquist officiating. Interment will be at Stanchfield, Minn.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the American Cancer Society or American Heart Association.
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