James Wallace Smith was born at Huron, South Dakota, on September 14, 1915. He was the son of Harry Arthur Smith and Johanna Ahern. James was born shortly after his parents moved from New Mexico to South Dakota. After spending his early years in South Dakota, James moved with his family to Mankato, Minnesota, in 1927. After his father died at Mankato in 1931, the family moved to Minneapolis.
James served in the U.S. Army during World War II and when he returned home he enrolled at the University of Minnesota, graduating in 1948. On October 22, 1949, he married Wisconsin native Patricia Spafford. They first made their home in Minneapolis, where they owned a number of businesses, and then moved to Rice Lake, Wisconsin, in 1957. They operated a municipal bus line for a time and then took over the school bus service for the Rice Lake schools.
James died at a Minneapolis hospital on July 11, 1969. Funeral services were held at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Shell Lake, Wisconsin, with interment at the church cemetery there. He was survived by his wife, five sons and a daughter; his mother; a sister, Elizabeth; and three brothers, Maurice, Joseph and Philip. In addition to his father, he was preceded in death by his brother John. His wife died in 2002.
James Wallace Smith was born at Huron, South Dakota, on September 14, 1915. He was the son of Harry Arthur Smith and Johanna Ahern. James was born shortly after his parents moved from New Mexico to South Dakota. After spending his early years in South Dakota, James moved with his family to Mankato, Minnesota, in 1927. After his father died at Mankato in 1931, the family moved to Minneapolis.
James served in the U.S. Army during World War II and when he returned home he enrolled at the University of Minnesota, graduating in 1948. On October 22, 1949, he married Wisconsin native Patricia Spafford. They first made their home in Minneapolis, where they owned a number of businesses, and then moved to Rice Lake, Wisconsin, in 1957. They operated a municipal bus line for a time and then took over the school bus service for the Rice Lake schools.
James died at a Minneapolis hospital on July 11, 1969. Funeral services were held at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Shell Lake, Wisconsin, with interment at the church cemetery there. He was survived by his wife, five sons and a daughter; his mother; a sister, Elizabeth; and three brothers, Maurice, Joseph and Philip. In addition to his father, he was preceded in death by his brother John. His wife died in 2002.
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