After a brief and courageous battle with lung cancer, Timothy J. Smith, 42, of Grand Forks, North Dakota, died in his home surrounded by his loving family, friends, and his beloved pets.
Tim was born on July 3, 1981, the son of Dale and Doris (Przybilla) Smith in Crookston, Minnesota. He was raised and educated in Crookston, where he proudly drove his red Camaro while he listened to a plethora of music loud enough for the whole town to dance along as he drove by with the windows down beaming!
Tim met his first love, Amy Matchett, in Crookston in the late 90s and were married on December 28, 2004. Through this union, Denae and Mathea Smith were born. Tim was a girl dad through and through, letting the girls do his makeup and paint his nails, he was a very good sport! He had a penchant for homework time without calculators, teaching the girls life lessons they still remember today.
The Smith Family moved to Washington in 2005 when he was stationed at Fort Lewis Army Base, where Tim served two tours under Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom with the United States Army, serving as an 88M Motor Transport Operator [593rd Support Corps, 44th Corps Battalion, 40th Transportation Company, 3rdPlatoon]. Tim was discharged from the Army in 2009 and the Smiths moved to New Rockford, North Dakota. During their time in New Rockford, Tim worked as a diesel mechanic and later in the oil fields as a truck driver, while also serving as a volunteer EMS when he was home. They then moved to Grand Forks in 2013 and divorced but continued to raise their daughters together.
Tim then met and fell in love with Sabrina Butterfield on September 20, 2015, and they were engaged to be married at the time of Tim’s passing. In the eight years the pair shared, they made lasting memories, and their moments together are forever timeless. Tim and Sabrina enjoyed new experiences together through their love of travel and genuinely enjoyed spending time nerding out with each other watching movies and putting Legos together (ask anyone, their collection is impressive). Tim was lucky enough to gain several additional supportive family members through their union and he will be missed greatly.
During his time in Grand Forks, Tim worked in various manufacturing positions with the most recent being at American Crystal Sugar. No matter what he was doing, his personality carried him through. He was very creative and loved to tinker with anything, especially computers and cars, he was convinced he could fix it! He had a contagious sense of humor and a charming grin that was easily shared with others. He loved sports and watching the Vikings play, he was a foodie, particularly of the wing and cheese variety, and he always looked forward to camping, fishing, and anything outdoors when the weather was nice. He was also an avid gamer, meeting friends and annihilating rivals across the many systems and platforms he conquered.
Tim had a love of animals and treated all his fur babies like children. He was also the most stellar funcle Timmy and he provided many hugs, laughs, and memories for all his nieces and nephews, encouraging a healthy dose of mischief and provoking fun for all.
Tim is survived by his daughters, Denae and Mathea Smith; fiancé, Sabrina Butterfield; stepsons, Ethan and Connor Butterfield; mother, Doris Sorenson and father, Dale Smith; siblings, Jeremy Smith, Troy Smith, Jill Garcia, Travis Smith and April (Sam) Stuart; best friend, Matt Lewis; and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins. Tim was preceded in death by all of his grandparents; his father, Francis Devos; cousin, Adam Winters; cousin, Matt Brown; and his fur-son, Addison, (whom he lovingly called Addyman).
Visitation will be held from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, September 27, 2023, at Amundson Funeral Home. Memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, September 27, 2023, at Amundson Funeral Home.
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