Alton Henry Smith, age 70, passed away peacefully at his home in Glasgow on July 23, 2024. He was born on October 26, 1953, in Plentywood, Montana, to Stanley and Grace Smith joining his sister, Linda. He was a 1972 Plentywood High School graduate. Following high school, Alton married his high school sweetheart Sue Saxton of Antelope, Montana.
Alton worked a short time for the Sheridan County Road Crew prior to moving with Sue and daughter Melissa to attend gunsmithing school in Denver. Upon returning to Plentywood, he started a sporting goods store, bartended and Jessica joined sister Melissa. Alton co-hosted three Prairie Boogie outdoor concerts, was a twice elected Plentywood City Councilman, was the first US citizen hired by Prairie Pipeline Contractors of Saskatchewan. He then started his own Smith Road Boring Construction Company and later started Mon-Dak Marine, which relocated to Glasgow, Montana. He also worked as a real estate salesperson with his wife being his broker. In 2010, he went to work for five years for S K & S Oilfield Service in Williston, North Dakota running crews and later running the office.
Those who met Alton will not forget his infectious laugh, his sparkling blue eyes nor the respect he had for those that put in a hard and honest day’s work. He had a fondness for every dog that he met and was often called a ‘Dog Magnet’! Calling him an avid hunter and fisherman is most certainly an understatement. He treasured time spent with his hunting and fishing buddies as well as golfing with locals and his newfound Arizona friends who they met when they became snowbirds.
He is survived by his wife, Sue Smith; two daughters, Melissa (Chris) Hiltunen of Helena, Montana and Jessica (Mike) Pehlke of Glasgow; four grandchildren: Alexandra and Victoria Pehlke and Craig and Kaitlyn Hiltunen; as well as his sister Linda (Gary) Bartnes of Plentywood, Montana. He was preceded in death by both parents.
A memorial mass will be held on11:00 a.m., Thursday, August 1, 2024 at St. Raphael’s Catholic Church in Glasgow, Montana. Burial will take place in Highland Cemetery. A reception will be held back at the St. Raphael’s Parish Hall following the burial. Condolences may be left for the family at bellmortuarymontana.com.