Jessie Mae (Hagen) Smith

Jessie Mae Hagen Smith, 93, of Cut Bank died of natural causes early morning November 14, 2013 following a short stay at the Glacier Care Center in Cut Bank.  Funeral Services will be held at the First Presbyterian Church, 11:00 am Tuesday, November 19, 2013.  A reception will follow in the Presbyterian Fellowship Hall.  Whitted Funeral Chapel of Cut Bank is in charge of the arrangements.

Jessie “Mom” was the youngest of ten children (all preceding her in death) born to Joseph and Adele (Renner) Hagen of Glasgow, Montana.  Joseph Hagen homesteaded just north of Glasgow, where Mom grew up.  Following graduation from Glasgow High School, Mom attained her Commercial Pilot’s License at the young age of twenty.  This was quite an accomplishment for a young lady of this time.  She provided pilots with US Army WWII ground school instruction in Miles City.  While in Miles City she met her husband of 71 years, Dallas Smith, who was working for Northwest Airlines as a radio operator.  Mom and Dad had four children: Loren of Great Falls, Layla of Larkspur, CA, Kim and Robyn both of Helena .

Mom was unequivocally an optimist and her children thankfully all acquired this trait.  Dad will quickly tell you this optimism was essential in the businesses they ran together— Dallas Smith Construction and the St. Mary KOA Kampground. Her ability to appreciate every single day made being with her something special.

Mom loved the outdoors and participated with Dad in several outdoor adventures. One fall they floated the Athabasca River in Northern Canada, crossing Lake Athabasca in a motor-powered rubber raft.  Mom and Dad made countless backpacking trips into the Great Bear Wilderness and hiked a majority of the trails in Glacier National Park.  They had many adventures flying as well, all with safe outcomes due to Mom’s skill as a pilot.

Mom’s original love was unequivocally flying; however, following marriage, the love of raising four children surpassed her love for flying and she became the best mother anyone could hope for.  Mom got briefly back into flying in the early 1960s, purchasing an airplane (in need of repair) with her eldest son, Loren.  Mom never returned to full-time active flying, but often travelled with Loren in the aircraft.

Mom worked as a secretary, a stenographer, and a licensed Abstractor to support our family during its growing years.  The pinnacle of her work career was the St. Mary KOA Kampground, which she, with son Kim and daughter Robyn, started to run in the early 1970s. Mom’s optimism and skill handling the camping customers and Dad’s construction ability made a wonderful team in building up the St. Mary KOA.

The winter months were occupied with square dancing clubs in and around the Cut Bank area.  Dad was a square dance caller, and they had many, many friends in the square dancing community.  It was a common occurrence to have former square dancing associates approach them at the Panther Café in Valier and reminisce about their square dancing days.

Mom and Dad travelled extensively, and her hobbies included swimming, hiking, camping and photography, which she pursued during their travels.  At home she enjoyed reading, and firing and painting ceramics. Her lap was always our cats’ absolute favorite.