Bruce Smith

Bruce Gale Smith, 69, of Ponsford MN, died early Saturday morning October 16, 2021, with his wife Sheri, daughter Hope, and son-in-law Chris by his side. Bruce fought a valiant nearly decade long battle against rectal cancer from his cherished home on the lake.

Bruce was born April 22, 1952, to Russell and Gertrude (Johnson) Smith in Fergus Falls MN. During his school years in FF, Bruce was a member of Golden Gloves, and played baseball until basketball became his passion, which he excelled at while attending FF Jr College for 2 yrs., and Valley City State University, ND. Bruce graduated from Moorhead State Univ. with a degree in Phy Ed.

After moving to Fargo ND, he worked at Dakota Food Equipment where he garnered his love for cooking by calling on chefs and restaurant owners, learning many tricks of the trade. Bruce worked for Team Industries for 20 years in Audubon MN. When he retired due to his cancer diagnosis, he found new passions: fishing, golfing, bird watching (he could name them all) and creating delectable meals for family and friends.

Bruce graduated from Fergus Falls High School in 1970, where he met his wife, Sheri Quaal. These high school sweethearts married in 1974 in FF at Bethlehem Lutheran Church. Young love took its time to mature. They divorced, Bruce married Robin (Suhr) Somdahl and became a father to daughter Hope. Sheri married Ken Dahlgren. After they each divorced, Bruce and Sheri rekindled their love story 25 years later and remarried in 2007 in Las Vegas. A love story meant to be!

Bruce was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Russell Smith, Jr. He is survived by his wife Sheri (Quaal) Smith, his daughter Hope (Chris) Barta, granddaughters Mattyson Barta (boyfriend Brandan Lee) Ashton Barta (fiancé Darek Turner) and Allison Barta (boyfriend Race Heitcamp), sister Diane (Denny) Ewert, his nephew Chris (Stephanie) Ewert, his niece Missy (Lee) Keller and nephew Liam Conners-Smith, as well as numerous sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, and their families, and many aunts and uncles and their families.

Refreshments immediately following the service.

Donations in lieu of flowers to LoveYourBuns.org and/or to Animal Rescue

MarshmallowFoundation.org

TO SEND FLOWERS FOR THE SERVICE, PLEASE CALL LOCAL FLORIST DIRECTLY: DETROIT LAKES FLORAL (218) 844-5860 or CENTRAL FLORAL (218) 844-3664