Milton “Mitt” Smith
Milton Edmund “Mitt” Smith, 93, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and great-great-grandfather, passed away peacefully on January 17, 2021, at home surrounded by family.
Mitt was born March 4, 1927 in Salt Lake City, Utah, the youngest child of President Joseph Fielding Smith and Ethel Reynolds Smith. He attended public schools in Salt Lake City and received high school varsity letters in football, basketball, and track. Upon graduation from East High School, Mitt spent the next six years involved in three major activities: a student at the University of Utah, a member of the U.S. Navy during the last months of World War II, and a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Argentina. While at the U of U Mitt played quarterback on the football team for Ike Armstrong in 1944 and 1946. After serving his mission, in 1950 he played defensive halfback and punter for Jack Curtice. At the U of U Mitt was a member of the Sigma Chi and Delta Phi fraternities.
On March 31, 1950, Mitt married Donna Smith in the Salt Lake Temple. Donna was the youngest child of Patriarch Hyrum G. Smith and Martha Gee Smith. Donna was the mother of three children prior to her death at age 29 due to complications from multiple sclerosis. On June 6, 1958, Mitt married Valoy Frandsen, daughter of Roy and Opal Kelsey Frandsen of Mt. Pleasant, Utah, in the Salt Lake Temple. Valoy, the mother of five children, passed away less than 24 hours after Mitt’s death.
Mitt often mentioned that it took him thirty-seven years to finish his studies at the University of Utah. He entered as a seventeen year-old freshman in the summer of 1944, received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1951, an MBA in 1961, and a PhD in financial management in 1981. His employment career included nine years as an underwriter with the Utah Home Fire Insurance Company, six years in mortgage banking with Prowswood, and thirty years as a professor in the Marriott School of Management at Brigham Young University. His years at BYU were especially satisfying as he loved working with the students and faculty of that great university. In addition to teaching, Mitt had opportunities to help students through administrative responsibilities including service as an associate dean. Mitt retired from BYU in 1996.
Mitt was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was blessed to be able to serve in various callings throughout his entire adult life. These callings included serving twice as a bishop, a counselor in a stake presidency, and a member of the Sunday School General Board. Mitt was also blessed to serve in various assignments in Latin America. The first was as a young missionary in Argentina from 1947 to 1949. In 1968 Mitt was called as president of the Central American Mission which at that time included Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Hounduras. “We had some great missionaries and loved them all.” Valoy and the children were part of this mission, with headquarters in beautiful San Jose, Costa Rica. In the 1970’s Mitt had various mission and regional assignments in Mexico, Venezuela, and Colombia. In 2000 Mitt was called to serve as President, and Valoy as Matron, of the Guatemala City Temple. Mitt’s most recent assignment has been to serve as a sealer in the Mount Timpanogos Temple.
Mitt is survived by his brother, Douglas A. Smith (Elaine); children: Terri Ballstaedt (Rock), Randall Smith (Beverly), Ruth Steed (Craig), Lori Wagner (Wesley), Scot Smith, Rebecca Hockersmith (Kevin), Mark Smith, and Melissa Shimanek (Joseph); 38 grandchildren; 81 great grandchildren; and one great-great grandchild. As already mentioned, Mitt’s wife Valoy, to whom he offered immeasurable care and service, survived less than 24 hours after his passing.
Joint funeral services for Mitt and Valoy will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, January 23, at the American Fork 14th Ward chapel, 1100 East 400 North, American Fork. Due to COVID restrictions, attendance will be limited to immediate family members. Please contact a family member for the access link to virtual proceedings of the funeral service. In lieu of flowers the family would appreciate contributions to Humanitarian Aid of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.