Curtis Smedshammer, age 91, of LaMoure, ND, died Sunday, February 20th at CHI Oakes Hospital, Oakes, ND. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM on Monday, February 28th at Faith Lutheran Church in Valley City. Visitation will be held on Sunday, February 27th from 4:00 PM until 6:00 PM at Faith Lutheran Church and one hour before the service on Monday morning. Interment will be in the North LaMoure Cemetery in the spring. A live stream of his service and and online guestbook are available at www.lerudmathias.com.
Curtis was born to Martin and Esther (Haugen) Smedshammer on November 22, 1930, at the family farm in Litchville Township, LaMoure County, ND. He attended rural county school #3 in Litchville Township and graduated from Litchville high school in 1948. Curtis had a passion for sports, excelling in basketball, track, and baseball. His gift of working with numbers led him to pursue further education at North Dakota State School of Science. But after 3 months his help was needed back on the family farm, after his brother left for military service. He also picked up carpentry and masonry skills from an uncle and started working jobs in that capacity. Then in 1954 he entered the U.S. Army being stationed in Fort Leonard Wood, MO for a year. Later he was deployed to France for another year working in the motor pool.
During these young adult years, Curtis met the love of his life. He married Phyllis Pollert April 24, 1955 at Trinity Lutheran Church, a marriage that lasted for over 65 years. A few weeks later he was deployed overseas. Upon his return and honorable military discharge, they set up home in Valley City. Shortly thereafter, in 1956, they decided to try their hand at farming, purchasing a farmstead south of Litchville, raising small grains, dairy and beef cows, chickens and four fine daughters. In 1970, following his parents’ death, they moved to the family farm along Highway 1 continuing to farm. In 2002, they retired and moved to LaMoure, ND. In 2017, they moved to Valley City, remaining there for 3 years before returning back to LaMoure in 2020. Curtis currently was a resident at the Rosewood Court Assisted Living.
There he would happily play many games of pinochle and even learned some new card games.
Curtis was baptized and confirmed at rural North LaMoure Lutheran Church. He was a faithful and active servant of God, serving in various capacities on the church council. He followed his father’s footsteps as sexton, serving as such on the North LaMoure Cemetery board for 50 years. Upon closure of the North LaMoure Church in 2000, he joined Spring Creek Lutheran Church in Hastings, later Zoar Lutheran of LaMoure and presently was a member of Faith Lutheran Church of Valley City.
Curtis took pride in his community, serving as an elected County Commissioner for LaMoure County for 16 years and working for the ASC (Agriculture, Soil and Conservation). He also dedicated time to others as a field staff representative for North Dakota Farmers Union, and served on the local Cenex board, township board, and other community boards.
Throughout his life he enjoyed camping, golfing, bowling, traveling- particularly one trip to explore his roots in Norway. Curtis especially found joy in following his children, and later his grandchildren’s sporting and school events. He had a knack with woodworking, creating many treasures that he gifted to his loved ones. He had the reputation of beholding much wisdom and skill in which his family would call upon him for advice in taking on a project or planning something. You could count on him to figure out a solution. And he rarely missed family reunions as family and faith meant the world to him. Curtis will be greatly missed but know there is much joy taking place in the reunion with his dear Phyllis and blessed Savior Jesus.
Curtis is survived by four daughters: Vickie (Randy) Meidinger, Marion, ND,Vonne (Charlotte Viou) Smedshammer, Moorhead, MN, Valie (Kent Van Enk) Ringsaker, Marion, ND andVaNita (Brad) Rodin, Marion, ND; Eight grandchildren: Katie Meidinger, Chris (Rachel) Rodin, Shawn (Brittany) Ringsaker, Randa (Riley) Carlson, Cory (Alison) Rodin, Scott (Kre) Ringsaker, Kayla (Matthew) Cuypers, Shelby (Newman) Ringsaker, LaMoure, ND; Eight great- grandchildren: Ross, Rowan, and Rorey Carlson, Alaina and Parker Rodin, Madalyn and Mason Cuypers, and Aubree Sabinash-Protextor; Sisters: Elaine (Jim) Hilscher & Maxine Smedshammer; 3 Brother-in-laws: Donald Pollert, Clayton (Ginny) Pollert and Ken (Pat) Pollert.
Curtis is preceded in death by his parents, his wife Phyllis, grandson Ross Meidinger, brother Delmar (Margaret) Smedshammer, brother-in-law Mural (Lee) Pollert, sisters-in-law Leona (Don) Severson, Lila (Ray) Lebahn, and Georgine Pollert.
Lerud-Mathias Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.