Jim Diesel' Smith

On Sunday, October 20, 2013, James Lynn Smith, “Jimmy Diesel”, 66, died at his home in Billings, Montana. He was born October 9, 1947 in Billings, the oldest son of Eugene “Gene” and Georgie (Overstreet) Smith. In 1965 he graduated from Senior High School. On April 16, 1969 he enlisted in the US Navy and was honorably discharged March 16, 1971. Jim married Cindi Taylor; they later divorced. Jim began work at Holman GM Diesel, now Interstate PowerSystems, in 1972 as a diesel mechanic and held numerous positions in his 38 year career. He was respectfully known as Jimmy Diesel and mentored many of the new employees. He spent several years as a field technician chasing the oil rigs until he took a position as engine rebuild foreman and then became fabrication foreman overseeing the manufacture of custom generator sets and high technology oil and gas equipment. On May 26, 2001 Jim was united in marriage to Linda (Hofeldt) Schieffer. They enjoyed many good times together, taking trips with their friends to Jamaica, New Orleans and Baton Rouge, twice to Cancun, and to the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta. They enjoyed family gatherings, camping, road trips, and socializing with their friends and family. After retirement Jim started his own business “Yardifacts by Jim” making wagon wheels, wheel barrow planters, etc. He was an exhibitor at the Spring Home Improvement Show in 2013. Jim's interests and hobbies were many and varied. From enjoying the outdoors golfing, hunting and fishing to the kitchen, cooking, baking bread and making sausage from his wild game. He enjoyed gardening and yard work (ordering flowers, bushes, plants off the internet). His back yard was impressive with a pond and waterfall, fire pit, decks, horseshoe pits and grape vines for the infamous “Smith Vineyard” grape jelly. Whether he was designing and building things out of wood or metal, doing mechanic work or repairing anything broken, Jim enjoyed time in his shop. His favorite activity was “beer-thirty” at Bugz's, Play Inn, and recently the VFW with his friends. Jim is survived by his niece Kacey (Luke) Pentecost and their children Cody and Kadence; aunt Maeona Smith; his “Sweetie” Linda; her children Dax (Chantel) Schieffer of Bozeman, Derek (Susie) Schieffer, Devin Schieffer, all of Sidney; three grandsons Xander MacKenzie, Waylon Schieffer, Dax Michael Schieffer; sisters-in-law Linda (Chuck) Hagan of Billings, Jean Harrison of Dillon, Judy Altenhofen (Torch Scammon) of Arlee; brothers-in-law Henry (Penny) Hofeldt of Columbia Falls, Max (Dawn) Hofeldt of Chinook; many nieces, nephews and cousins. Jim was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Robert “Bob” Smith. Service: Memorial Services will be 2:00 p.m. Saturday, October 26 at Dahl Funeral Chapel with a reception at the VFW in the Heights.