Virgil Smeltzer

Funeral services were held Wednesday, April 21, 2010, at Leeds Lutheran Church, for Virgil C. Smeltzer, 67, of Leeds, who died Friday, April 16 at Mercy Hospital in Devils Lake.

Burial was in Leeds Lutheran Cemetery.

Virgil was born Dec. 24, 1942, in Leeds, a son of Ernest and Emma (Johnson) Smeltzer. He was raised there and graduated from Leeds High School in 1960. He married Sharon Mason on Oct. 31, 1964. The couple made their home in Leeds where he worked as a handyman, carpenter, and sheep shearer.

He was a member of Leeds Lutheran Church, the Leeds Jaycees, and the Leeds Fire Department. He also taught hunter safety classes.

He is survived by his wife, Sharon, of Leeds; two sons, Scott of Gilbert, Ariz. and Shane of Chandler, Ariz.; two grandchildren; five step-grandchildren; five brothers, Vance, Tex, Bruce, Bob, and David, all of Leeds; a sister, Gaile Fish, of Butte, Mont.; an aunt, Ruby Halvorson, of Leeds; and other relatives.

He was preceded in death by his parents; grandparents, Morris and Pernella Johnson and Albert and Anna Smeltzer; and sisters, Audrey Olson, Ellen Guss, and Gloria Launes.

Pastor Richard Budd officiated. Music was provided by Nancy Silliman, soloist, and Dan Nybo, organist.

Casketbearers were Kenneth Arens, Wally Bisbee, George Freund, Larry McIntyre, Frank Ritterman, and Gary Rolle.

Arrangements by Nelson Funeral Home, Leeds.