Sidney D. Smith, 72, of 201 Riverview Drive W., an insurance agent, Marine Corps veteran and longtime Montana resident, died of cancer Tuesday at Peace Hospice.

A celebration of his life is 1 - 4 p.m. Thursday at the LaQuinta Inn. Cremation has taken place under the direction of O'Connor Funeral Home.

Sidney, loving son, husband, father, brother and friend, returned to his creator on Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2009, surrounded by his family, after a long and hard struggle with cancer

Sid was born Sept. 14, 1937, in Idaho Falls, Idaho, the oldest son of Howard and Ruth Smith. He lived in Hammer, Idaho, and graduated from Roberts High School in 1955. Sid spent two years in the Marine Corps and another two as a reservist. He worked at the Sieben Ranch, a place he loved and returned to often to hunt and fish while attending Carroll College in Helena in 1956 and 1957. In 1958, he transferred to Montana State College in Bozeman, where he graduated with a degree in general science in 1959.

Sid loved Montana and everything the state had to offer, whether it was boating at the Gates of the Mountains, floating and camping on his yearly trip down the Smith River, or hunting and fishing with friends and family. He also had a love, like his father, of flying, and became a pilot, flying small-engine planes and gliders. Sid was a compassionate man and didn't think twice about picking up a hitchhiker on his travels or offering a meal and bed to a stranger in need, sometimes much to the dismay of his family. Once you met him, you were never a stranger, but a friend.

He was an avid reader with a thirst for knowledge, and it was not unusual for him to be reading several books at a time. With Sid's quick wit and sense of humor, conversation with him was always entertaining. He loved his family and looked forward to the yearly family reunion, where a favorite activity of his was to try and con someone into giving him a head scratch. Over the years, he and Nancy owned several businesses in Helena and Great Falls. Even though sales was his passion, he was never afraid to explore a new business venture.

In 1961, he married Judith Williams, and they were blessed with four children, Curtis (Tia) of Great Falls, Shawna (Kirk) of Helena, Deidre of Helena, and Brandon (Kirsten) of Manhattan. They later divorced, but remained close and part of each other's families. He met and married Nancy in 1986. Nancy brought two wonderful daughters to their union, Kristy (Mike) of Memphis, Tenn., and Jill (Eddie) of Eugene, Ore.

Sid was preceded in death by his father, and is survived by his mother, Ruth; six children; 13 grandchildren; one great-grandson; and seven siblings, plus too many nieces and nephews to count.

Sid was a great man and will be missed by all who crossed his path.

We would like to thank all the wonderful angels from hospice who lovingly cared for Sid, especially Audrey, Tanya and the staff at Peace Hospice House in Great Falls, as well as all the family and friends who came to visit and give support.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Peace Hospice, 1101 26th St. S., Great Falls, MT 59405, or to a charity of your choice.