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Billie M. "Wild Bill" Smith, 80, of Blair passed away January 18, 2017, at the Louisville Care center in Louisville, Nebraska. A memorial service will be held Thursday, Jan. 26 at 2 p.m. at Campbell Aman Funeral Home in Blair. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service.

Bill was born on July 18, 1936, in Hastings, Nebraska, the son of Jesse and Cleo Mackey Smith. He graduated from Blair High School in 1955. He worked as a shoe salesman at The Bootery in Blair and later went into business for himself crafting leather making wallets, belts, checkbooks and many various items and artwork. He would come to be known as "Wild Bill" as he traveled with his growing business to popular area destinations including Estes Park, CO and Apache Junction, AZ with the Barleen Family. Wild Bill retired in his hometown of Blair.

He is survived by his children; daughter Debbie (Rick) Contreras of Bellevue; son, Mark (Linda) Smith of Jacksonville, Fla., son Nate (Holly) Smith of Jarrell, Texas; daughter Niki (Mark) Wulf of Blair, son Dan (Becky) Smith of Omaha; 13 grandchildren, 3 great grandchildren, 3 nieces and many friends and extended family.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother Jack Smith of Blair; and one great granddaughter, Sophie.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family for later designation.

#2 Printed in the January 20, 2017 Enterprise, Blair, Nebraska

Bill Smith, 80

Bill Smith, age 80, died January 18, 2017 at the Louisville Care Center, in Louisville, Nebraska. Funeral services are currently pending.

#3 Funeral Leaflet

In Loving Memory of Billie Smith “Wild Bill”

Born July 18, 1936 Blair, Nebraska ~ Entered Into Rest Louisville, Nebraska

Memorial Service 2:00 PM Thursday, January 26, 2017 Campbell Aman Funeral Home, Blair, Nebraska. Officiating: Nick Bank. Musical Selections: “Old Rugged Cross”, “The Living Years”

Graveside Service: Blair Cemetery, Blair, Nebraska

The family would like to invite everyone to Fernando’s following the graveside service

Campbell-Aman Funeral Home

~~~Obituary and funeral leaflet courtesy of Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings and leaflets on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska~~~

FindaGrave # 175526200