George Berggren Smith was born on July 10, 1935, in Alexandria, Minn., to Gust and Ruth (Berggren) Smith. He passed away suddenly at home on August 6, 2026, at age 91. 

George’s first few years were in Alexandria, where he enjoyed playing in the neighborhood with friends. He was happy to tell the stories of celebrating American victories in WWII while playing in the back yard and flying paper airplanes off the house balcony. The opening of Home and Farm Supply in Henning brought Gust and the family to Henning. It also became an opportunity for George to begin learning to fix most things–and became a jack of all trades–and master of most. 

He met his future wife, Donna Albright, while he was in 6th grade and she was in 5th grade at Henning Elementary School. During high school, he enjoyed playing basketball and the flute and occasionally demonstrated those skills to his children in later years. George graduated from Henning High School in 1953 and headed off to St. Cloud State University until entering active service in the U.S. Army in 1955. He finished his two-year enlistment at Fort Lewis, Wash., in 1956 and returned to Henning, where he married Donna on August 12, 1956.

They moved to St. Cloud, where he finished his bachelor’s degree in business administration at St. Cloud State, and Donna continued her Registered Nurse training. Their St. Cloud time fostered George’s love for water skiing, something he and friends did regularly on the Mississippi River near their apartment. He kept up that hobby, still slalom skiing into his eighties. George worked at National Bushing in Rochester, Minn., while Donna finished her nursing education. His next job was at General Adjustment Bureau as an insurance adjuster. This took them to Dickinson, N.D., and then Moorhead, Minn. He was hired by Alexandria Adjusting in 1966 and moved back to the farm in Henning, where all six children were raised. 

George made farm life tough and fun–sometimes at the same time. From raising pigs and several hundred chickens each summer, a very large garden, fruit trees, cutting wood, and having a huge yard, he taught his children about the value of work and that they could do anything. That work ethic included playing hard–in moderation, though–which involved motivating each of the kids to learn how to water ski at an early age. In 1994, George and Donna built a home on East Battle Lake and have been enjoying the water view ever since. 

George never lacked something to do, and the list of his hobbies would be very long. Besides snowmobiling, ice skating, and waterskiing, he enjoyed aviation and Aero club activities, everything to do with cars (including restoring a 1961 Metropolitan), fixing most anything, meticulous lawn care, voracious reading, and generously helping others in many ways. 

After retirement in 1997, George teamed up with Roger Beals to do remodeling and construction jobs for more than ten years. He loved his time with his good friend Roger. Their work never got in the way of regular coffee and cookie breaks. Snowmobiling was a big winter activity for George, who would even go on his own to Vining for coffee. He could still get himself buried in the snow and dig out his own snow machine–though he didn’t have the need for speed of his younger offspring along the trail. George and Donna enjoyed traveling across the United States and to other countries in their retirement. 

It’s hard to list all the ways he encouraged and motivated his family and so many others. His gentle mentoring, founded on excellent listening skills, a multitude of questions, and persistent patience, motivated his children and grandchildren toward achievement, but also faith in God. George loved his Lord and Savior as the foundation of his life. His peace was complete, knowing that Jesus forgave him of his sins and that he would be in heaven one day. He also wanted others to turn to Christ–enjoying daily devotions and prayer, often with family. Another big part of George’s ministry was to be a significant leader in the building of two Henning churches, where he also served for his entire life.

George is survived by his wife, Donna Albright Smith; children Leslie (Chris) Smith of Minneapolis, Greg (Mary Jo) Smith of Midwest City, OK, Grant (Laura) Smith of Henning, Geoff (Lori) Smith of Henning, and Lisa (Jon) Dreyer of Henning; 18 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren. 

George is preceded in death by his parents Gust and Ruth Smith, his brother Richard Smith, his daughter Laurie, and his great-granddaughter Evelyn.

George’s family requests that you wear “Lake Casual” to his services.

Memorials may be directed to Trout Lake Camps, 10173 Trout Lake Drive, Pine River, MN 56474, in memory of George Smith.