St. George, Utah-Roland Edward Smith, our beloved patriarch, finished his earthly mission and returned to his heavenly home February 8, 2024, at the age of 86, surrounded by family at his home.

Roland was born August 17,1937 in Ogden, Utah to Ariel and Josephine Smith. He was the fifth of eight children. At 18 months old, his family moved to South Africa, and lived there for the next ten and a half years of his life. His experiences in Africa instilled in him a deep appreciation for America and its freedoms. At a very young age, he gained a great respect for the American Flag and the freedom it represents.

Through junior high and high school, he played the drums and sang in many youth choirs and has always had a love of music.

Roland served as a missionary for The Church of Jesus of Latter-day Saints in the Southwest Indian Mission from September 1957 to September 1959. On his mission he developed a love of the Native American people, who he served and worked among. He was able to master the Navajo language, which later served useful throughout his career.

On June 6, 1960, he married his sweetheart, Clara Diane Zollinger in the Logan Temple. They were blessed with seven children.

Roland received his bachelor's degree from Utah State University in elementary education with a minor in music. He played the drums in the marching band, which Diane really enjoyed. He later earned a master's degree from Brigham Young University in educational administration in 1981. Shortly after, he began his teaching career in Logan, UT. With hard work and dedication, his goals of moving to the Intermountain Indian School in Brigham City, UT were met. And he worked there for the next 18 years. From Intermountain he moved to the Shonto Boarding School on the Navajo Reservation and then later to the Kaibeto Boarding school, finishing his 30 years for the Bureau of Indian Affairs. After he retired, he worked as a financial advisor for the next 12 years.

Roland was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He had a firm testimony of his savior Jesus Christ. He held many callings including, Patriarch (26 yrs.) and Sealer (25 yrs.) in the St. George Temple. He devoted much of his life to serving the Lord and ministering to those in his family and community. He was a giant, both spiritually and in stature. His infinite wisdom and counsel will greatly be missed by all those who knew him.

He leaves a large legacy. He is survived by his sweet wife, Diane Smith; his seven children: Todd Smith (Beckey) Ridgecrest, CA, Teresa Koerner (Dean) St. George, UT, Tony Smith (Kristin) Apache Junction, AZ, Tracy Smith (Mandy) Alpine, UT, Terry Smith (Rose) Saratoga Springs, UT, Tamara Harding (Jeff) Logandale, NV, Tina Fekete Edmonds, WA; 26 grandchildren, and 37 great-grandchildren. Roland is preceded in death by his parents, Ariel and Josephine, and sister, Shirley Calder.

Funeral services will be Friday, February 23, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at Winchester Hills Chapel located at 5338 Winchester Drive, St George UT. Visitations will be held at the church on Thursday evening from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and on Friday, prior to services, from 9:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. Interment will be at Tonaquint Cemetery, 1777 South Dixie Drive, St. George, Utah

Services will be live streamed at the following link: https://zoom.us/j/93412004495