Natalie Louise Smith

Natalie Louise Smith, 89 of Great Falls, a retired Cascade County legal secretary, died of natural causes on Nov. 22, 2017 at Peace Hospice. Other occupations over the years were VA Hospital, General Mills, YMCA and the City of Great Falls. A celebration of her life will be held at New City Church at 1:00 p.m. on August 3, 2018. Schnider Funeral Home is handling arrangements. As we gather to say goodbye to our loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, we as her family would like to share with friends some memories. Natalie was born October 22, 1928 in Butte, MT to Betty Lucille (Foltz) and Charles C. Baker. She was very proud to be a Butte native. Her parents moved and ran the grocery store in Bannock, MT where she attended kindergarten in the one room schoolhouse. Her grandfather Louis Foltz was a stage coach driver in Yellowstone Park. Later the family moved back to Butte. She graduated from Butte High School in 1946. Natalie and her longtime friend Phyllis both took jobs in Helena at the VA Hospital while living at the YWCA. One weekend they came to Great Falls by bus to see Phyllis's old neighbor from Butte, who happened to be Evan Smith. He was working as a pipe fitter at the Smelter. After their courtship, Natalie transferred to Great Falls with the VA and married Evan on May 31, 1947 in Great Falls. She used to tell the story that she told Evan she could not marry him until she had an ironing board. They did not have a car, but had the ironing board when they got married. They made their lives in Great Falls raising their three children. There were many pets over the years from dogs, cats, turtles, an owl and even a monkey. Many family activities included several road trips with the family camp trailer from Canada to California, camping, bowling at the Elks Club, gardening, baseball and card playing. Her favorite ice cream was black licorice. Later in life she could be found with her Sun Prairie friends doing morning walks and/or coffee dates. Wednesday night became the Sun Prairie wine social with her friends, and Friday night out to dinner with friends and family. She is survived by her three children, son Wayne (Donna) Smith of Marshall, MN; daughters Sherry Frasure and Julie Hannon both from Great Falls; grandchildren Tressa Schwab of Colorado, Tristie Smith of Billings, Trevor Smith of Colorado, Brian (Cindy) Hannon, who is active duty Navy, stationed in San Diego, Colleen (Dusty) Campbell and Garrit (Melanie) Frasure, both of Great Falls; step-grandchildren Scott Norrander and Stacy (Reid) Jorgenson of Minnesota; sister-in-law Joan Baker of Seely Lake, who she considered to be her sister; several great-grandchildren; nieces; and nephews. Natalie was preceded in death by her loving husband, Evan Smith; parents; sister Darlene Taleff; two brothers, Nick and Charles (Cy) Baker; and a granddaughter Evalie Amber Frasure. Even though her passing leaves a very large void in our lives, the warmth of the memories she created will forever remain. She lived life to the fullest and was very blessed with being a part of so many lives which includes her good friends and family. Memorials are suggested to the National MS Society or Cancer Society.