Irene Smith

      Irene Smith, 78, of Red Lake, died Tuesday, March 9, 2004, at the Red Lake Indian PHS Hospital in Red Lake.

      The funeral will be held at 1 p.m. Friday at the St. Mary’s Mission Catholic Church in Red Lake with the Rev. Bill Mehrkens officiating. A wake began on Wednesday at the Redby Community Center in Redby and will continue until the time of the service on Friday. Burial will be at St. Mary’s Mission Catholic Cemetery in Red Lake under the direction of the Cease Family Funeral Home of Bemidji.

      Pallbearers will be Randy Johnson, Jr., Lee Lussier Jr., Todd Smith, Charles Smith Jr., Rodney Prentice Jr., and Paul Prentice, with alternates Keith Smith and Richard Smith Jr.

      Honorary pallbearers will be Bobbi Ann Lussier, Barb Westbrook, Barb Fairbanks, Margaret Fairbanks, Charlene King, Marilyn Mountain and Donna Fairbanks.

      Irene was born on December 11, 1925, to Joseph and Jenny (Beaulieu) Fairbanks in Red Lake. She was raised and educated in Red Lake. She married Patrick Smith on July 8, 1944, in Red Lake.

      She was a homemaker who enjoyed going to the casinos and spending time with her children and grandchildren.

      She is survived by her children, Charles Smith Sr., Erma Lussier, Valerie Johnson, Jennifer Smith, Josephine Smith, Joann Smith, Phyllis Smith, Craig B. Smith, John A. Smith, Patrick Smith, Gloria Smith, all of Red Lake, and Richard Smith of Bemidji; numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren; sisters Carol Wells and Ruth Mountain, both of Red Lake.

      She was preceded in death by her husband, two daughters, one son, one great-grandson, three brothers, three sisters, and her parents.