Robert Allen Smith

Robert A. "Bob" Smith, age 74, of rural Guckeen, died Tuesday, January 31, 2012, at St. Mary''s Hospital, Rochester. Funeral services will be held on Friday, February 3, 2012, at 11:00 AM, at Hope United Methodist Church in Blue Earth, with Rev. Arthur Keith officiating. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery, Blue Earth. Visitation time will be from 4:00 to 7:00 PM Thursday, at Patton Funeral Home & Cremation Service, and one hour prior to services at the church. Web tributes may be left at www.pattonfh.comMemorial donations are preferred to United Hands Hospice.Bob was born March 7, 1937, in Jo Daviess Township MN, the son of David and Evelyn (Helland) Smith. He was raised and educated in the rural Guckeen area where he attended school. He enlisted in the U. S. Marines in 1954, returning to Minnesota a few years later where he worked Road Construction for several years. He was married to Anna Belle Shumski on May 3, 1958 in Fairmont. The couple farmed in the rural Pilot Grove and Guckeen area since 1965. In 1978 Bob purchased the hog buying station in East Chain where he began working with his son, Rick. He had also been in the trucking business for several years, hauling livestock. He had a passion for going out west for "order cattle" for area farmers. Bob was a very social person who loved to visit with friends and neighbors and was always there to help when needed. He enjoyed riding his motorcycle and frequenting the Derby Inn for coffee & cards most mornings. He was proud to care for his wife, Ann, during her struggle with Lou Gehrig''s disease because "she would have done the same for me."Bob is survived by his son, Rick (Mary Kay) Smith of East Chain, his daughter, Robin (Tom) Huber of New Ulm, his brother, Arvid (Lynette) Smith of Elmore, his sister, Mary (Paul) Schavey of Blue Earth, his sister, Jeanette (Arden) Thompson of Bena, his sister-in-law, Elaine Smith of Denver, Colorado, his grandchildren: Garrett (Melissa) Smith of Rapid City, SD, Chad Smith of East Chain, Mariah Smith of St. Cloud, Brittany Huber of Rapid City, SD, Jordan Huber of New Ulm, two great grandchildren, Teaghan & Serre Smith and special friend, Mary Peterson of Armstrong, Iowa.He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Ann in 2007, mother & father-in-law, Martin & Agnes Shumski and two brothers, Dennis & Bruce Smith.