Pete Smith left for his next hunt at 4:35 PM, February 22, 2012. He died peacefully at his
winter home at Kino Nuevo, Sonora, Mexico with his son Nels at his side. He was able to pursue his passion his entire life, taking three doves with three shots within a month of his death.

Peter Franklin Smith was born November 28, 1914 at the ranch home of his parents,
Nels H. Smith and Marie (Christensen) Smith seven miles south of Sundance, Crook County, Wyoming. The family then moved to the Pride of the Prairie Ranch in Weston County.

Peter received his elementary education at Green Mountain School and in his grandmother's kitchen. He then attended Sundance High School, where he graduated in 1931 at age 16. Next was enrollment at the University of Nebraska, where he was on the water polo and rifle teams, and was a member of the Society of Pershing Rifles.

His business activities included ranching, trout production, meat packing, executive conference center operation, and mineral investments. The remainder of his life was spent doing what he enjoyed most; being with family and friends, traveling, hunting, and seeing something positive in every day.

He was the last surviving attendee of the first One-Shot Antelope Hunt in 1940.

Peter Smith and Helen Jensen were married at her parents' home in Greenwich, Connecticut, on October 23, 1937. Two children, Nels Jensen in 1939 and Constance Christine in 1942, were born to this marriage. Peter and Helen divorced in 1949. Peter married Oydis Horton in 1950 and her two daughters, Ellen and Dorothy, joined his family. His daughter Connie disappeared July 16, 1952 and has never been found or accounted for, despite exhaustive efforts to solve her disappearance.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Christy, his first wife, Helen, his second wife, Oydis, his daughter, Ellen Driskill, and his grandson, Mathew Driskill.


He is survived by his son, Nels (Jeanette) Smith of Sundance, WY and daughter, Dorothy (Rondy) Dike of Seattle, WA, grandchildren; Doug (Pam) Smith of Morgan Mill, TX; Garrett (Kristie) Smith of Lusk, WY; Jesse K. (Peggy) Driskill of Rio Rico, AZ and Ogden (Zanny) Driskill of Devils Tower, WY, Ren (Susan) Dike of Seattle WA, Oydis (Dean) Nickel of Snohomish, WA, Jennifer (Chris) Adams Seattle, WA and many great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Family and Masonic Graveside rites will be held at Green Mountain Cemetery, Four Corners, Wyoming, in the near future.

A celebration of his remarkable life is tentatively scheduled for 2:00 PM, Friday, July 27, 2012, at Ranch A, Beulah, Wyoming.

A memorial has been established to the Ranch A Restoration Foundation and the Crook County Museum Foundation/Old Stoney Fund. Donations may be sent to: Nels Smith PO Box 408, Sundance, WY 82729, or to the charity of your choice.

The family expresses its profound appreciation to Alan Whitfield and Christe Canfield,
two loyal and supportive friends and caregivers, without whom Pete could not have enjoyed his last months as he did.