Ernest C. Smith 85 of Thief River Falls, MN died on Saturday, April 14, 2012 at the Karlstad Nursing Home in Karlstad, MN. Visitation will be held Wednesday, April 18, 2012 from 5 - 8 PM with a prayer service at 7:00 PM at Johnson Funeral Service in Thief River Falls, MN with Rev. Terri Cuppett officiating. Burial will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Friday, April 20, 2012 at Wikstrom Cemetery near Strandquist, MN. Ernest Clifford Smith "Smitty" was born on April 28, 1926 son of the late Erick Sigurd and Ida (Wikstrom) Smith at Beaty, Saskatchewan, Canada. Following the death of his mother, he lived with his grandparents Peter and Christine Wikstrom of Strandquist, MN where he attended school. On July 22, 1944, Ernest entered the Army Air Force (Army Air Corps) and served his country during WWII, receiving the WWII Victory Medal and WWII Army of Occupation Medal. Following his honorable discharge on November 6, 1945, he was employed by Monford's Packing Plant in Colorado for 10 years. He returned to the Strandquist area where he owned and operated Helen and Smitty's Bar for a time, then moved to Pequot Lakes, MN where he owned The Steer and Stein. Following that, he owned and operated a landscaping company in St. Paul, MN. He was united in marriage to Helen Hastad of Thief River Falls, MN. Upon his retirement, Ernest made his home at the High Rise in Thief River Falls and later years at Valley Home in Thief River Falls. Smitty enjoyed visiting and having coffee with friends, he will be greatly missed by friends and family. He was a member of the VFW. He is survived by his son Dudley (Sieglinde) Smith of Columbia, SC; two grandchildren Vincent and Patrick; one sister Evelyn Stallock of Karlstad, MN and sister-in-law Kathryn Smith of Rush City, MN, brothers in law Henry Hastad, Thief River Falls, MN, Wayne Jarshaw, Warroad, MN, sisters in law Sharon Wayne, Greely, CO, Doreen Harpool, Kansas City, KS, Doloryce Zepda, St. Paul, MN, and nieces, nephews and many other relatives. Ernest is preceded in death by his parents and grandparents, brother, Wilfred Smith; brother-in-law Conrad Stallock Step-mother Annie Smith. Family condolences may be sent to www.johnsonfuneralservice.com MILITARY HONORS: Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #2793, Thief River Falls and Minnesota Army National Guard Honor Guard