Funeral services for Howard Smette, age 83 of Newburg, were held on November 19, 2009 at 10:30 am at the Dovre Lutheran Church in Newburg. Officiating at the service was the Reverend Barb Haugerud. Bill Bauman was the eulogist. Special music was provided by Avis Tvedt and Aaron Rubbert. Casket bearers were Rodney Smette, Fred Sund, Darryl Smette, Eric Miller, Tom Henning and Jay Kersten. Burial was at the Dovre Cemetery in Newburg.

Howard Smette, a son of Randall and Ann (Garbe) Smette, was born on December 7, 1925 at Newburg. He was reared there and later graduated from Newburg High School. He entered the US Army on January 4, 1944. He was a paratrooper in the 101st Airborne and fought in the Battle of the Bulge and was a POW before his Honorable Discharge on March 4, 1945. Following his discharge; he worked at his parent's grocery store in Newburg and later as a meat cutter at a grocery store in Mohall. He was called again to active duty in October of 1950 and was stationed in Joplin, MO for a year. One June 23, 1956, he married Beth Sund in Newburg. He worked at Sund Manufacturing in Newburg until his retirement in 1979.

Howard was a member of the Dovre Lutheran Church in Newburg. He was a member of the American Legion Post #302 in Newburg, VFW Post 6832 in Westhope and the Minot Chapter of Disabled American Veterans.

Howard passed away on Veterans Day, Wednesday, November 11, 2009 at a Fargo veteran's hospital.

He is survived by his wife, Beth of Fargo; daughters, Deborah (Leonard) Hoskin of Maxbass, DeVonna (Delbert) Williamson of Batesville, IN, Dorothy (William) Pribula of Milnor, ND and Donna (Tom) Samuelson of Horace, ND; 2 sons, Kris Smette of Newburg and Jeffrey (Stephanie) Smette of Fargo; grandchildren, Ian Williamson, Collin and Jordan Pribula, Katelin and Hawkin Smette, Rachel Samuelson Dwyer (Jack), Hannah, Josef and Isaac Samuelson and Karli, Hailee and Emmie Smette; great grandson, Jesse Dwyer; brother, Gordon Smette; sister Randi McLean and numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, Howard was preceded in death by grandsons, Clayton Williamson and Gerald Smette; daughter-in-law, Kimberly Smette and an infant brother, Carl Randall Smette.

Arrangements were with Nero Funeral home in Bottineau.