Gary Allen Smith, age 72, of Aneta , ND died April 7, 2011 at the Aneta Parkview Health Center.  Gary was born August 1, 1938 to Alvin and Violet [Johnson] Smith. He grew up near Aneta and was valedictorian of his high school class at Aneta.  He graduated from Mayville Teachers College and taught school one year in Twin Falls , ID and one year in Mount Shasta, CA. He then moved to Las Vegas where he worked in casinos at night and played golf during the day.  After his father's death in 1980 he returned to Aneta to care for his mother.

In the 1956 State Class C Basketball Tournament Gary set a record for field goals scored in a single game and was one point from tying a single game scoring record.  He played many of the championship golf courses in United States and was very competitive in golf tournaments in Las Vegas, Fargo and the Aneta area. He won the Cooperstown Country Club Championship in 1981 and 1990.   Another interest of his was investing in the stock market.

Gary is survived by his brother James E. Smith of Fargo, ND and his sister Connie Hall of Lincoln, NE.  He is also survived by four nieces: Taunja Feldman of San Diego, CA; Deidre Leer of Owattona, MN; Tausha Johnson of Lincoln, NE; and Nicole Kilde of West Fargo, ND .

He was preceded in death by his parents and brother-in-law, Bob Hall.

Funeral services for Gary will be held Tuesday, April 12, 2011 at 2:00 PM in the Sundahl Lutheran Church, Aneta, ND. Visitation will be one hour prior to services in the church.  Officiating will be Reverend Kenneth Iverson.   Organist will be Lori Ham.  Soloist will be Scott Huso.  Casketbearers will be Jerry Sandbeck, Tim Brakke, Mark Hanson, Larry Ulvog, Dennis Olafson and Ron Lerol.  Honorary casketbearers will be Jim Odegaard, Chuck Ulvog and Brad Brakke.  Interment will be in the Silent Hill Cemetery, Aneta, ND. Arrangements with the Stanley-Iverson Funeral Home.