Mary Louise “Beezie” Hallett Smith passed away in the early morning hours of April 24, 2025, at the age of 99. The Treasure State lost a true treasure.
She was born in Glasgow, Mont., on March 1, 1926, the second child and only girl of George and Myrtle (Knight) Hallett. She was the granddaughter of William and Mary Knight and great-granddaughter of Milton Sanders and Louisa Knight, who were early settlers in Redstone, Mont.
When she was three or four, her family moved to South Gate, Calif., where her father found work. They later moved to Redstone where Beezie attended the Redstone School for her first three grades. They then moved back to Glasgow where her father worked on the Fort Peck Dam, the largest earthfilled dam in the U.S. As a child she loved playing with grasshoppers, snakes and many more of nature’s creatures. Once she heard her mother mention there were mice and crickets in the basement so she caught a bull snake and put it in the basement to take care of the problem. Her mother, who was deathly afraid of snakes, was none too pleased to say the least!
Growing up in a family of all boys, she did everything the boys did, sometimes better! She learned woodworking and carpentry skills from her father, who was a master carpenter. In those days, girls were not allowed to take shop and woodworking classes but, since her father was the shop teacher, he taught her many of those skills at home. She graduated from Glasgow High School in 1943, then attended nursing school obtaining her RN license. Subsequently, she went to work in the Glasgow hospital.
On May 24, 1953, Beezie married long-time friend of the family Robert “Bob” Smith. He told his mother when he was six that he was going to marry her. They were married 65 years until his death July 16, 2018. Together, they raised four children — Michael, Myrtle, Robert Jr. and Mary. A fifth child, Sammy Geo, died at birth. They lived in Wolf Point where she was a part-time nurse for the Indian Health Clinic in both Wolf Point and Poplar for many years.
Another funny snake story occurred when the neighborhood boys caught a snake and were going around the neighborhood scaring all the ladies. When they got to Beezie’s house, they expected the same result. They were sorely disappointed when she thanked them, took the snake and put it in her garden. She laughed until the day she died about the look on their faces.
The family moved to Plentywood in 1974 and started the Sears catalog store. After selling the store in 1976, she went to work at Sheridan Memorial Nursing Home as a nurse and later at the hospital as an X-ray technician, retiring in 1996 to care for her mother.
Beezie enjoyed painting, drawing and crafting, talents she developed early in life. Her favorite painting medium was oils but she also worked in acrylics, watercolors, pastels, charcoal and more. She made many of her own frames for her paintings. When a new neighbor moved in across the street, who happened to be an artist, they became fast friends and Beezie would often help her teach art classes. Beezie’s pictures adorn the walls of many homes around the country. She also tried her hand at sculpting and found it to be great fun. Later in life, she started making beautiful beaded Christmas ornaments. Initially, she started with kits but her creativity took over and she began designing her own. She was a member of the Plentywood Art Club for several years.
She enjoyed gardening, inheriting her love of raising vegetables from her father and love of growing flowers and other plants from her mother. Every year, she cultivated a large garden, canning and freezing the fruits of her labor, which she loved sharing with family and friends. The rule was, if you wanted more next year … bring back the jars! She also enjoyed raising chickens.
A family favorite summer activity was making homemade root beer. Neighborhood kids and cousins from all over enjoyed sipping this delicious beverage in the Smith house. Every winter, she flooded an area next to the house for a skating rink. The entire neighborhood was welcome … as long as they behaved themselves. The older boys kept it clear of snow. She kept the ice smooth. Hot chocolate was usually available when we came in to warm up.
She and Bob were members of the Redstone United Methodist Church (now the Redstone Community Church). Founding members include her great-grandparents Milton Sanders Knight and wife Louisa. Milton donated the land on which the church was built. He was instrumental in getting the excavating started and provided the sand for pouring the concrete. Her mother, Myrtle Knight (later Hallett), was the first secretary/treasurer of the Sunday school.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband and brothers, Robert, Duane and Lloyd Hallett. She is also preceded in death by her sons, Michael and Sammy.
She is survived by her daughter, Myrtle Martinson of Antelope; son, Robert Jr. of Billings; daughter, Mary of Purcellville, Va.; daughter- in-law, Nancy of Billings; grandsons, Michael Smith Jr. (Melissa) of Billings and Wyatt Martinson (and family); great-grandchildren, Gabriel and Aislinn Smith of Billings; sister-in-law, Pat Hallett of Nashua, who was like the sister she never had; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Services will be held May 16, 2025, at 2 p.m. at the Redstone Community Church. Interment will follow at the Redstone Cemetery. A light reception will be held afterwards.
Fulkerson Funeral Home of Plentywood is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Redstone Community Church.
(Paid Obituary)
