Don Smith turns 80 - Happy Birthday

Donald (Don) M. Smith was born on August 5, 1927 at Fort Morgan, Colorado in a farmhouse to Patrick and Catherine (Chandler) Smith. He moved to Lonestar, Colorado shortly after, and then to Yuma, Colorado. In the early 1930s, they moved to the Huey Ranch about 9 miles north of Haigler, Nebraska. He grew up on the ranch acquiring the love of farm life. He attended the schoolhouse District 76 near the ranch where he talks about the numerous rattlesnakes that frequented the place also. He acquired the enjoyment of arrowhead hunting and collected a unique accumulation of sizes and stone. During his father’s illness with cancer, he was blessed to be able to live with Rosie and Glen Himberg until his father was able to return. He holds them dear to his heart for their compassion and love shown. His parents took under their wing a girl, Teresa, and raised her at the loss of her parents. She went to visit an aunt in Missouri as an adult and ended up staying there and marrying Albert Beam.

In the 1940s Patrick and Catherine Smith bought the Boyd Hedge farm which was rented to Rosie and Glenn Himberg. In 1946 the Himberg's purchased their own farm and Don Smith then moved onto the farm prior to marrying the love of his life Mary J. Bullock on April 12, 1947. The farm was located about 6 miles north of Haigler. They were blessed with 54 years together. Mary died on Dec. 13, 2001. They had two children, Melvin and Patricia. They lived on the farm until the fall of 1968 when they moved to McCook to further their growing Amway business. Dad and mom together grew their business and were privileged to care for their parents also. Through their farm, neighbors, business with Amway and Amsoil they have been blessed with many friendships and precious memories. Today he is able to keep in contact with several via the internet and loves checking his email to see who emailed him that day.

Dad still continues to live in McCook but considers the Haigler area his hometown and enjoys reading about past and current events as others share their stories and pictures on the Haigler Blog. He has submitted some articles and pictures of his own about the Huey Ranch, his parents, the Himbergs, the Bullocks, and others, which readers have expressed appreciation for.

Don is blessed to have three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Please feel free to share a memory with dad by emailing him at dsmith@swnebr.net or via snail mail at 604 West G Street, McCook, NE 69001 or by phone 308-345-3933

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Happy Birthday, Dad!

(Click on picture to enlarge)

-- Submitted by Patricia Fortkamp

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Hope you have a great day Don, we will have to do this again in another 80 years.

Cal Freehling

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY DON,
DALLAS ADAMS

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Don,Gene and I want to wish you the best of the best of birthdays.And hey your one year older than he is..LOL
You and Mary made a very goodlooking couple.We loved the pictures.
Gene remembered when you and Mary were younger and you haven't aged a day.So we will see what you will look at your next 80th birthday.
Best wishes Gene and Vie Pennell

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Happy (belated) Birthday!!! It is sooo cool to see all of these pictures. They bring back many many memories for me. What a beautiful family you have!!!

Hope you are happy and well.
Eunice (Gregory) Richard
Tucson, AZ

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Happy Birthday to Don Smith: This is a belated greeting, but didn't want to miss letting you know that we are thinking of you.

We enjoyed so much seeing you, Melvin and Patti at the Haigler Alumni. We did not go to school in Haigler, however, we have always felt close to the Haigler people and love that little town. Still can't get over how much Melvin looks like you. You are very blessed to have such wonderful children.

Hope you have many more happy birthdays.

Leah Gregory Brewer

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Send greetings to Don to be posted on the blog: Email to the Blog