John Smith, age 83, of Elkhart, Kansas, died Thursday, March 18, 2021, at Morton County Hospital. He was born December 23, 1937, in Lamar, Colorado, the son of John B. Sr., and Olga Eva (Heyman) Smith.

John grew up west of Richfield, Kansas and attended a country school, Taloga, in a one room school house for the first eight years of his education. He graduated from Elkhart High School in 1955 and was valedictorian of his class. John graduated from the Colorado School of Mines in May, 1960 with a Professional Engineering Degree in Petroleum Engineering. John was active in Sigma Phi Epsilon, Blue Key, Theta Tau, and was in Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges. After completing a semester of graduate school at the University of Colorado, John was drafted into the Army in 1961. He was assigned to the Engineering Research and Development Laboratory and spent his Army career designing fuel tanker unloading facilities and related equipment from Vietnam.

John was a successful farmer and rancher in the Richfield area. In 1970, he married the love of his life, Shirley Talcott. John was a family man who placed his faith in God above all else and his children and grandchildren were his pride and joy. John was a faithful member of the Elkhart First Christian Church and often helped with the youth group, Extra Milers, as well as being an Elder and Sunday School teacher. John enjoyed being involved in the Elkhart Community, actively serving on the Elkhart Co-Op board as a member and president for a number of years, as well as serving on the ASCS and FSA boards. In 2020, the City of Elkhart presented John with Morton County Pioneer Man of the Year Award, a title he was honored to receive.

John enjoyed collecting rocks, arrowheads and cast iron toys. He loved traveling and had been to all 50 states, much of Canada and Mexico, Ireland and parts of Europe. He was known as an avid reader and was always happy to discuss books.

Survivors include his wife of 51 years, Shirley of Elkhart, Kansas; daughter, Sherri Noel and husband Gregg of Abilene, Kansas; sons, Michael Long and wife Kerri of Phoenix, Arizona, and Barry Smith and wife Melinda of Denver, Colorado; brother, Howard Smith and wife Janis of Elkhart, Kansas; nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

John is preceded in death by his parents, John Sr., and Olga Smith.

Funeral service will be held Monday, March 22, 2021, at 10:00 AM at the First Christian Church in Elkhart, Kansas, with Pastor Jim Cunningham officiating. The service will also be live streamed on Garnand Funeral Home Facebook page. Burial will follow at the Elkhart Cemetery with Military Rites by Elkhart VFW Point Rock Post #3162. Visitation is Sunday, March 20, 2021, from 2:00 PM until 8:00 PM (family will be present from 6:00-7:00) at Garnand Funeral Home in Elkhart. The family requests memorials may be given to First Christian Church in care of Garnand Funeral Home, PO Box 854, Elkhart, KS 67950. Condolences may be posted at www.garnandfuneralhomes.com.