Marvin Smith

Marvin Leroy Smith, age 91, died Saturday, June 6, 2026, at Central Nebraska Veterans’ Home in Kearney, Nebraska, following a hard-fought battle with cancer.

Marvin was born July 29, 1934, to Paul E. and Della Mae Smith at home in Agra, Kansas. Along with his parents and siblings, Gene and Patty, Marvin’s childhood was spent living on farms in north central Kansas near Alton and Smith Center. He attended country school during this time and would later share stories with his children about the many miles he walked to school each day. Marvin’s parents purchased and settled on a farm in Jewell County, near Esbon, Kansas, when Marvin was in the eighth grade. He attended Esbon High School, where he excelled as a fullback on the school’s six-man football team, was named Homecoming King, and met a popular cheerleader named Ethel Carver.

Following his high school graduation in 1952, Marvin farmed with his father for a period of time before enlisting in the U.S. Army. He proudly served in the First Calvary Division of the Infantry and achieved the rank of Corporal. He was stationed in Tokyo, Japan, for eighteen months and was honorably discharged in November 1955.

On December 12, 1955, Marvin and his high school sweetheart, Ethel Carver, were united in marriage. They farmed in Jewell and Smith Counties for several years until moving to Red Cloud, Nebraska, in 1962. During these years, they were blessed with the arrival of two daughters, Sherri in 1957, and Jeri, in 1960, who were followed by a son, Jeffery, in 1963. Shortly after Jeffery’s birth, the family moved to Kansas City, Kansas, where Marvin completed diesel mechanic’s training and later worked for Caterpillar in Wichita.

In 1965, Marvin relocated his family to Minden, Nebraska, where he became a residential city/rural delivery driver for Abbott’s Dairy of Hastings, for the next fifteen years. He serviced the city routes in Minden and Axtell, along with rural routes in the Minden-Axtell-Wilcox-Hildreth areas. He enjoyed having his children take turns accompanying him on his routes, to which they were frequently rewarded with chocolate milk, ice cream bars, and popsicles for their “hard work.” During these years, Marvin and Ethel’s family became complete with the birth of their youngest child, Joel, in 1969. Each summer, the family looked forward to traveling in their pickup camper to visit national parks and various other scenic attractions in the western United States. Full days of sightseeing often ended with rousing card games of Spoons, Fish, and Crazy Eight. At bedtime, Marvin loved regaling his children with “tall tales” of his adventures with Davy Crockett, Daniel Boone, and other western figures, leaving everyone laughing and screaming for more.

Following the closure of Abbott’s Dairy in 1980, Marvin purchased a commercial milk distributorship, affiliated first with Meadow Gold and later, Robert’s Dairy. Known as “Marv’s Delivery,” he serviced several businesses in the south-central Nebraska region for sixteen years.

Upon retirement in 1999, Marvin and Ethel returned to rural living outside Guide Rock, Nebraska, where they enjoyed gardening, following Kansas Jayhawk sports, hosting their children and grandchildren for family gatherings, and doting on their beloved Chesapeake/Labrador Retriever named, “Chessie.” Marvin began a second career as a school bus driver for the Red Cloud Public Schools and found himself thoroughly enjoying his interactions with the children. When not at home, Marvin and Ethel enjoyed traveling with their camper to visit their grandchildren and to support them in all their athletic endeavors. Sadly, Ethel passed away in 2005, just a few months short of their fiftieth wedding anniversary.

Marvin and special friend, Sharon Richardson of Minden, blended their lives together in 2007, first residing in Red Cloud and later, in Holdrege, Nebraska. They enjoyed camping, visiting with each other’s families, keeping their homes and yards in pristine condition, and doting on Chessie. Marvin continued his career as a school bus driver, working for Holdrege Public Schools, until suffering a stroke in 2017. He successfully recovered and enjoyed many more productive and happy years until moving to the Central Nebraska Veterans’ Home in Kearney, Nebraska, in April of 2026.

Throughout his life, Marvin enjoyed following Kansas Jayhawk Sports, reading western novels, and gardening. His children and grandchildren will fondly remember sharing outdoor activities with him such as fishing, boating, and hunting. His penchant for telling those “tall tales” at bedtime continued with the grandchildren and will also be a lasting memory.

Marvin is survived by four children, Sherri (John) Stookey, Jeri Camp, Jeff Smith (Cristi), and Joel Smith (Linda); ten grandchildren, Mark Wellington, Holly Sandino, Daniel Stookey, David Stookey, Taylor Monks, Carlie Smith, Halston Smith, Alyssa Rice, Jenna Moench, and Brandon Smith; Sixteen great-grandchildren; sister, Patricia Snow; sister-in-law, Carole Smith; nieces, Becky Halsey and Angela Ayers; nephew, Paul Smith, and special friend, Sharon Richardson, and her family: Kelvin and Kayleen Schepker, Kim Schepker and Chaynce and Peyton, Kris and Cheryl Schepker, Amy and Charlie Wolfe, and Mackenzie and Trevor Wolfe.

Those preceding Marvin in death include his wife, Ethel; his parents; Paul and Mae Smith; brother, Gene; and nephew, Brad Snow.

Visitation will be on Friday, June 12, 2026 at the Williams & Kuehn Funeral Home in Red Cloud from 10am until service time at 2pm. Funeral Services will be at the funeral home starting at 2pm.

Memorials are suggested to the Marvin Smith Memorial Fund and may be sent in care of Williams & Kuehn Funeral Home, 241 West 4th Ave., Red Cloud, NE 68970.