Viola D. "Skipper" Smith

Viola D. "Skipper" Smith of Lander/Fort Washakie passed on April 1, 2016. She was 84 yrs old. Viola was born to Gladys Snyder and Jacob Henan on March 5, 1932 at Fort Washakie, WY.

A visitation will be held from 5.00 pm to 8.30 pm with a rosary service starting at 7pm. on Wednesday April 6th at the Chapel of Mount Hope, Hudson's Funeral home in Lander.
Funeral services will be held at 10am on Thursday April 7th at the Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church at Fort Washakie. Burial will follow at Sacajawea Cemetery Fort Washakie.

Viola was affectionately known as Skipper by her family and friends.Skipper grew up at Fort Washakie attending Fort Washakie School and graduated from Fremont County Vocational High School (FCVHS) and earned a A.S. Certificate from CWC in 1980.

Viola married Joseph Smith on September 1, 1956. They had three children, Joseph J. Smith Jr., Camille A. Smith and Kenneth F. Smith.In her youth Skipper was a member of the girl scouts in Fort Washakie, was very active in many sports and enjoyed everything that she could participate in.Skipper was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary at Fort Washakie for many years.Skipper was a 25 year Breast Cancer Survivor and participated annually in the Susan Komen's Race for the cure events.

Skipper first started working for Hines General Store in the 50's. After getting married, Skipper and her husband Joe both worked at the Chief Washakie Plunge and started their family. Her husband Joe relocated the family to Chandler Arizona to work for the BIA on the Sacaton Indian Reservation in the 60's. Then the family moved to Casper, Wyoming in the early 70's where Skipper worked for Kmart until the family moved in the mid 70's back to Fort Washakie where she enjoyed raising her three children.

Skipper was employed by the Joint Business Council in 1980 and worked for 30 yrs in the Secretarial Dept. until an injury forced her to retire in 2010.She especially enjoyed being around her grandchildren.Skipper was interested in various things and events. Skipper enjoyed going to pow wows to watch her husband and daughter dance. She enjoyed the many fishing and cookouts along the river and in the fall Skipper enjoyed riding along with husband Joe on hunting trips. She enjoyed western movies, Neil Diamond songs, doing crossword puzzles, watching anything on history and reading all the travel magazines, brochures, pictures her children brought back for her during their travels. Skipper was a big fan of Baseball and Football and the Olympics.Viola liked talking about the national political events that were shaping the world at the time. Skipper was a faithful member of the Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Fort Washakie.

Viola was preceded in death by her mother and father (Gladys and Jacob Henan), bothers Dean and Everett Henan, sisters Mary Henan, Elaine Engavo, Thelma Coffey, Florence Chingman and other family cousins, uncles and aunts. Viola is survived by her daughter Camille Smith of Lander, Son Joseph J. Smith Jr. of Lander and son Ken & Debbie Smith their children Nolan, Winnie and Abby Smith all of Lander, her sisters Peggy Meyers of Fort Washakie, Ruth Classey of Washington, brothers Jacob Henan Jr, of Fort Washakie, Ben E. Henan of Cheyenne Wy. and other numerous relatives.


Funeral Home:
Hudson's Funeral Home
680 Mount Hope Drive
Lander, WY
US 82520