Gary Lee Smith, 77, of North Platte, Nebraska, passed away January 21, 2022 at Great Plains Health in North Platte. Gary was born August 18, 1944 to Albert Lee and Edel (Petersen) Smith in Great Falls, Montana.
Gary grew up in Newcastle, Wyoming, graduating from Newcastle High School in 1963. He worked as a DJ in Rapid City, South Dakota, and a TV announcer. He was involved with a scuba diving group that helped with search and recovery. Then he moved to Fallon, Nevada where he continued his radio career. Gary met and married his first wife Karen, to this union a son Richard Lee was born. Then he moved back to New Castle, then Buffalo, and then to Rapid City. Eventually he moved to Gering, Nebraska where he became a police officer. Gary was married to Betty J. Coleman on August 21, 1978 in Scottsbluff, Nebraska. He was a Sgt., with the Gering Police Department. They moved to Newcastle in 1982 where he was a police officer and deputy sheriff, Justice of the Peace and eventually Chief of Police for New Castle. Then they moved to O’Neill, Nebraska where he was Chief of Police, retiring in 2003. The couple moved to North Platte in 2003 where he was Chaplain for the North Platte Police Department, North Platte Fire Department and Lincoln County Sherriff Department. Gary officiated many ceremonies and funerals in North Platte during his time here. He assisted the local law enforcement in any way he could. He was a road Captain for the Patriot Guard and served on the committee for the Police Memorial in Grand Island. He was a Chaplain for many motorcycle shows and rallies filled the pulpit for Sunday services for area churches and spoke at services at Fort McPherson National Cemetery. Gary was involved in the annual Mikey Ride in Wallace, Nebraska and was past president of the Platte Valley Gun Club.
Survivors include his wife Betty of North Platte; son, Richard L. (Jen) Smith, Ohio; four grandchildren; one sister, Deb (Gary Wilson) Smith, Newcastle, Wyoming; two nieces, Anna (Aaron) Logan, and Jenny Mosley, all of Newcastle, Wyoming; along with other family members and numerous friends.
In lieu of flowers a memorial has been established in Gary’s name.
Memorial services will be at 11:30 A.M., Wednesday, January 26, 2022, at the Moose Lodge, North Platte, with Fire Chief Dennis Thompson and Ray Richards officiating. The Patriot Guard will be in attendance. Book signing will be noon – 5:00 P.M., Tuesday, January 25, 2022 at Adams and Swanson Funeral Home who is in charge of arrangement.
The service will be livestreamed via the Adams & Swanson Facebook page for those unable to attend.