Jess Chester SMITH

Notes:

In the 1930 census, he and his family lived in Sanborn in Redwood County, Minnesota. Jess was a laborer.

In the 1940 census, he and his family lived in Aitkin in a house that Jess owned. Jess was employed full-time as the operator of a road grader. The family had lived in rural Aitkin County in 1935.

Jess married Gertrude Ladornia STORY on 31 Jan 1922 in Cottonwood County, Minnesota. Gertrude was born on 8 Jul 1901 in Cottonwood County, Minnesota; died on 26 Sep 1988 in Aitkin County, Minnesota. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Jeanne married Carl Gilbert WIKELIUS on 22 Mar 1946 in Aitkin County, Minnesota. Carl was born on 5 Feb 1916 in Aitkin County, Minnesota; died on 11 Sep 1961 in Aitkin County, Minnesota; was buried in Lakeview Cemetery, Aitkin Twp, Aitkin County, Minnesota. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: John BENSON. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Born Hazel Jeanette.

Jeannette H. Garafola, 81, of Ironton, died May 18, 2005, at the Cuyuna Regional Care Center in Crosby. She was born Oct. 5, 1923, in Ironton to Jess and Gertrude (Story) Smith. She was a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Crosby. She graduated from Aitkin High School, class of 1941, and attended Normal Training in Crosby, graduating in 1942. She taught school for one year in Iron Hub. She married Angelo F. Garafola on Feb. 17, 1943, in Aitkin. She was a homemaker for many years. She was employed with the Brainerd State Hospital as a psychiatric technician, giving 10 years of service. She later was employed in Eveleth with a group home for four years. They then moved to Nashville, Tenn., where she helped her husband with the Fraternal Order of Police Camp for underprivileged children.

She is survived by her husband, Angelo; four sons and daughters-in-law, John and Jane Garafola, St. Paul, Patsy and Debbie Garafola of South St. Paul, Mark and Patti Garafola of Goodlettville, Tenn., John E. and Elise Garafola of Anoka; four daughters and sons-in-law, Jeanne Rubio of Davenport, Iowa, Rose Garafola-Wright of Crosby, Connie and Craig Klingehofer, Aitkin, Mary Garafola, Duluth; brothers, Max (Helen) Smith, Cohassett, and Roger (Shirley) Smith, Monticello; sister, Jeanne (John) Benson, Aitkin; 29 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her parents; two daughters, Susan Garafola and Angela Bye; and son-in-law, Robert Bye; and grandson, Jon Ebnet.

Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Monday at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Crosby. Burial will be at the Lakewood Cemetery, Crosby.

During that one year of teaching she taught Elaine and lived with Mabel and John for at least part of the year.

Jeanette married Angelo Francis GARAFOLA on 17 Feb 1943 in Aitkin County, Minnesota. Angelo was born on 24 Apr 1919 in St. Louis County, Minnesota; died on 9 Mar 2012 in Stearns County, Minnesota; was buried in Lakewood Cemetery, Crosby, Irondale Twp, Crow Wing County, Minnesota. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Max “Snuffy” Lionel James Smith, 84, born Aug. 8, 1928, in Jeffers, Minn., passed away Sept. 1, 2012, at his home surrounded by his family.

Max grew up in Aitkin and graduated from Aitkin High School. He served in the Minnesota National Guards (194th Tank Regiment). Max moved to Hazard, Ky., to be a disc jockey for WKIC. Max moved back to Minneapolis where he married his sweetheart, Helen Eda Wendt in 1954. He worked for Prudential Insurance for 35 years. After retiring Max and Helen moved north to Sugar Lake, Minn., for 17 years. In 2004 they moved to Baxter to be closer to family. All along the way he established lifelong friendships.

Max is survived by his wife, Helen; brother, Roger; four children, Larry (Cindy), Greg (Laura), Jeff (Myrtice), and Barb (Scott); grandchildren, Blair, Kelby, Jamie, Devonlee, Ashley, Chelsey, and Gabrielle; and great-grandchild, Emma.

Max was preceded in death by his parents, Jess and Gertrude Smith; and sisters, Jeannette Garafola and Jeanne Benson.

Max’s life was truly centered around family and friends. Everyone knowing Max has their own favorite hunting and fishing memories. Later in life, Max became a very accomplished wood carver and enjoyed sharing his carvings.

Services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 6, 2012, at Lord of Life Lutheran Church in Baxter. Family and friends are invited to gather one hour prior to services at the church. Interment with military honors will be held at 2 p.m. at Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery near Camp Ripley, Minn.

Died:
of Baxter

Max married Helen Eda WENDT on 22 May 1954 in Aitkin County, Minnesota. Helen (daughter of Edwin Frank WENDT and Elizabeth BANKS) was born on 16 Feb 1934 in Aitkin County, Minnesota; died on 15 Jan 2013 in Crow Wing County, Minnesota; was buried in Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery, Little Falls, Minnesota. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Minnesota Death Certificate: 1953-MN-003414

Notes:

Angela Kay Bye, 52, Merriam, Kan., formerly of Crosby, died Wednesday, April 28, 1999, at her home.

She was born June 25, 1946, in Aitkin to Angelo and Jeannette (Smith) Garafola. She lived in the Crosby Ironton area and graduated from Crosby-Ironton High School in 1964. She married Robert A. Bye on June 25, 1966, in Crosby. She was employed at First National Bank of Crosby. They lived in Duluth, Cottage Grove, Arlington, Texas, and then Merriam, Kan. She continued her banking career with Mercantile Bank. In January of 1999, she was honored with an award as one of the top 10 outstanding employees in the region, receiving this award while battling terminal cancer.

Survivors include two sons, Bob Bye, Merriam, Kan., and Jason Bye, Phoenix, Ariz.; her parents, of Hermitage, Tenn.; four brothers, John Garafola, St. Paul, Patsy Garafola, South St. Paul, Mark Garafola, Hermitage, Tenn., and Johnnie Garafola, Anoka; and four sisters, Jeanne Rubio, Davenport, Iowa, Rose Garafola-Wright, Apple Valley, Connie Klingelhofer, Aitkin, and Mary Garafola, Duluth.

Her husband died earlier.

Services will be 1 p.m. Saturday at Koop Funeral Home in Crosby with Father Howard Eisel officiating. Burial will be in Lakewood Cemetery of Crosby.

Angela married Robert Arnold BYE on 25 Jun 1966 in Crow Wing County, Minnesota. Robert was born on 15 Oct 1944 in North Dakota; died on 6 Dec 1988 in Kansas; was buried in Lakewood Cemetery, Crosby, Irondale Twp, Crow Wing County, Minnesota. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]