Lyndell was born Sep 10, 1929 in Northwood, ND the son of Harry and Merle Smith. He grew up in Larimore and graduated from Larimore High School in 1948. He worked for Davidson Gravel Supply from 1946-1951. He joined the US Army in 1952. He returned to Larimore and worked for Davidson Gravel Supply and Bradshaw Gravel.

Lyndell married Shirley Benson in 1960 at Dahlen, ND. In 1963 he started working at the Grand Forks Air Force Base as a winter seasonal heavy equipment operator. During the early seventies he was an equipment operator constructing the ABM site in Nekoma, ND. In 1974 he became a full-time heavy equipment operator at the Grand Forks Air Force Base and retired in 1994.

During his retirement he worked for Bill Farrell Farms and traveled around the United State & Canada. He was a lifelong member of the Church of the Nazarene, Larimore.

Lyndell passed away at the Good Samaritan Center in Larimore on Nov 14, 2013. Funeral services were held at the Church of the Nazarene, Larimore with interment at Bellevue Cemetery, Larimore; Military Honors by Ted Valerius Post #97, Larimore American Legion.

At time of death Lyndell was survived by 2 sons, 3 grandchildren, 7 sisters and 1 brother and a special friend. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Shirley, sisters Lois, Mildred and JoAnne and brother Wayne.

The following was written by Lyndell for his 50th class reunion.

I was born in Northwood, North Dakota, one of 13 children. We lived on a farm until I was nine years old. We then moved into Larimore where I attended school, graduating in 1948.

During the summers of 1946-1951, I worked for Davidson Gravel Supply. In February of 1952, I joined the U.S. Army for two years. I began working at the Grand Forks Air Force Base in 1963 for the winter months. In 1973 I was hired on as a permanent Civil Service worker in civil engineering. I retired in September of 1993.

I married Shirley Benson of Dahlen, ND on May 29, 1960. She taught school at the Grand Forks Air Force Base for 31 years, retiring in May of 1993. She passed away in March of 1995 while we were vacationing in Florida.

We have tow boys, Terry is married to Nancy Schroeder of Bordulac, ND. They live in Larimore with their two boys: Sawyer 4 1/2, and Seth who is 1 year old. Timothy lives in St. Paul,MN.

I am a member of the Nazarene Church in Larimore. I'm thankful for Christian parents who set a good example for all of us kids. My goal in life is to make it to that Eternal City we call Heaven.