Roland Burton Smith, age 88, died on August 3, 2009 at the Caribou Memorial Living Center in Soda Springs, Idaho.

Roland was born on Saturday, April 9, 1921 in Preston, Idaho, the oldest child of Nathan LeRoy and Mary Ransom Burton Smith. He grew up on a farm in Cleveland, Idaho and graduated from Thatcher High School in 1939. He served as a missionary from 1941 to 1943 for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Southern States Mission. He was inducted into the army in 1944 and served in the 28th Infantry Division in France and Germany during World War II.

Roland married Minnie Arlene Gillette of Tooele, Utah on June 7, 1944 in the Salt Lake Temple where their union was sealed for eternity. They celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary this year. Roland graduated from Utah State University and moved to Soda Springs in 1952 where he taught English at Soda Springs High School for several years. He retired from Monsanto in 1983.

Roland and Arlene served a mission for the LDS Church in Hawaii from 1984-1986, then at the London Temple from 1989-1990, and finally at the Manila, Philippines Temple from 1994-1995. They then served in the Logan Temple for many years.

Roland is survived by his wife Arlene, two brothers Nathan (Sharon) Smith of Yuma, Arizona and Ross (Leone) Smith of Thatcher, ID and a sister LaRella (Ted) Larsen of Las Cruces, NM. He was preceded in death by his parents and his younger brother Delon (Nelma) Smith of Las Cruces, NM. Roland and Arlene have four children, Roland K. (Nina) Smith of Pocatello, ID, Eileen (Phil) Bell of Sandy, UT, Terry (Allan) Rich of Farr West, UT and Perry LeRoy (Christine) Smith of Green River, WY, 27 grandchildren and 60 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, August 8, 2009 at the Hooper LDS Church in Soda Springs at 11:00 a.m. The family will receive friends and relatives at a viewing on Friday evening, August 7, 2009 from 7-8 p.m. at the Sims Funeral Home, 139 East 2nd South, Soda Springs, ID 83276 and before the funeral on Saturday morning from 9:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. at the Hooper LDS Church. Interment will follow the funeral at the cemetery in Cleveland, Idaho.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Sims Funeral Home. Condolences may be sent to the family at http://www.simsfh.com. The family wishes to extend their grateful appreciation to the Caribou Memorial Living Center staff for the care and love they provided to Roland while he was a resident there.