If you’ve lived in the Magic City for any length of time, you know the name Smith. It’s basically woven into the local history here. When someone passes away, the first thing most of us do is pull up the smith funeral home billings obituaries to see the arrangements or share a memory.
It’s a heavy time. Honestly, navigating a website is the last thing you want to deal with when you're grieving or trying to support a friend. But in Billings, the Smith family chapels have been the primary point of contact for these moments since the late 1800s.
Finding Current Smith Funeral Home Billings Obituaries
The most direct way to find a recent notice is through the official Smith Funeral Chapels website. They maintain a digital archive that is updated almost daily.
If you're looking for someone specific, like Marcille "Punky" Butts or Jaynee Darnell Metcalf—both of whom had services in early 2026—the site typically lists them by date of death. You’ve probably noticed that these digital tributes are more than just text now. They usually include:
- Tribute Walls: Where you can post photos or "light a candle."
- Service Details: Specific times for the Downtown or West chapels.
- Flower Orders: Links to local Billings florists that coordinate directly with the home.
Sometimes the official site can be a bit slow to load if there's a lot of traffic. In those cases, many locals head over to the Billings Gazette via Legacy.com. Since Smith Funeral Chapels often publishes there as well, it serves as a reliable backup. For example, the obituary for Ronald Steel, who passed away just as 2025 was ending, appeared across both platforms.
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The Different Locations in Billings
It’s easy to get confused because "Smith" isn't just one building. They have a few spots around town and in the surrounding areas. If the obituary says the service is at the "West Chapel," don't show up at the one downtown near the hospital.
Smith Downtown Chapel
This is the big one at 925 South 27th Street. It’s been at this location since 2005, though the business itself started way back in 1896. If you're heading here, parking can be a bit of a squeeze during large services, so getting there 15 minutes early is a smart move.
Smith West Chapel
Located at 304 34th Street West, this location tends to serve families on the West End. It has a slightly different feel—maybe a bit more contemporary than the downtown branch.
They also have locations in Laurel, Columbus, and Red Lodge. When you're searching the smith funeral home billings obituaries, double-check the city. I’ve seen people drive all the way to the 27th Street location only to realize the service was actually out in Laurel at the 3rd Street chapel.
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Why the History Matters
You might wonder why one name dominates the funeral industry in Yellowstone County. It started with G. Herman Smith back in the day. He actually took over the "undertaking" part of a livery stable business because his uncle, Pete Smith, didn't really have the stomach for it.
The business stayed in the family for generations. Eventually, it was purchased by Jered Scherer, William Brown, and William Bray in the 70s. Today, it’s still operated with that local, independent feel by Jered Scherer and Ronald Stene.
This longevity is why the archives are so deep. If you are doing genealogy work or looking for an ancestor who passed away in Billings in the 1940s, the Smith records are often the "Gold Standard" for researchers in Montana.
What to Do If You Can't Find an Obituary
Sometimes a family chooses not to publish a public obituary immediately, or they might opt for a private service. It’s their right, of course, but it can be frustrating if you’re trying to find out how to help.
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- Check the "Past Services" Tab: On the Smith website, they split things between "Current" and "Past." If it’s been more than a week, it might have moved.
- Social Media: Occasionally, the funeral home will share a notice on their Facebook page before the full text hits the website.
- Call Them: The staff at Smith (406-245-6427) are actually very helpful. If a service is public, they will give you the time and place over the phone.
Practical Steps for Using the Obituary Search
If you're trying to track down a specific person in the smith funeral home billings obituaries database, use these tips:
- Vary the Spelling: Old records or even new ones can have typos. Try searching just the last name.
- Filter by Month: If you're not sure of the exact day, the "Filter" tool on their site lets you browse by month/year.
- Check "Tribute Archive": This is a third-party site that often scrapes the data from Smith’s site. If Smith’s internal search is being finicky, Tribute Archive usually has a cleaner search interface.
Losing someone is hard enough. Knowing where to find the info shouldn't be. Whether you’re looking for Kenneth Grosjean or LaNita Faye Maurer, the digital records are there to make sure people aren't forgotten.
To get started with your search, go directly to the Smith Funeral Chapels website and use the "Obituaries" search bar at the top of the homepage. If you are looking for historical records prior to the year 2000, your best bet is to contact the Yellowstone County Museum, which houses many of the physical records and even some vintage equipment from the early Smith years.