Ivan Smith

Ivan Howard Smith, long-time Grand Forks resident, died at home peacefully on Tues., Jan. 29, 2008. Ivan was the director and founder of Mission Socorro, a local charitable organization that has helped thousands of area families during the 36 years the Smiths have lived here. Ivan was born in Aberdeen, SD, on March 19, 1932, the son of Howard Vere and Jessie (Parsons) Smith. He attended school in various SD cities, then entered the Army in 1950. He was stationed at Aberdeen Proving Grounds, MD, a town he grew to love. He served in Korea for nearly two years, as an ammunition supply specialist. During his time in Korea, he became close friends with a young Korean houseboy, who taught him several Christian hymns in Korean. When Ivan left Korea he gave his last paycheck to that boy. Several years later he learned that the boy had given the money to his parents, who had used it to build a small chapel, which was named the Ivan Smith Chapel. Ivan died just minutes after singing one of these songs in Korean. Ivan's further education included graduating from the Ray Vogue School of Photography, Moody Bible Institute (both in Chicago, IL) and some post-graduate studies at UCLA. Ivan met Janet Elaine (Hallett) Smith when they were serving as missionaries in Acarigua, Venezuela, ministering for 9 years. They were married Dec. 18, 1965. When they returned to the US, Ivan pastored a small Church of God in Roosevelt, MN and a Nazarene Church (under which he was ordained) Albion, NE. Ivan and Janet were looking for a place to settle permanently where they could continue in their Christian service when Ivan came across an article in the Red River Valley about the plight of many of the migrant workers. They felt led to go there, so in Apr. 1971 they moved there and established Mission Socorro. In a few years that work expanded to include many permanent residents as well. They were asked by Northwestern Bell to assume the phone number 775-HELP, which they still have, in order to better serve people who were looking for help and had no idea where to turn. Over the years, they have helped literally several thousand families with all sorts of problems. The idea behind Mission Socorro went back to Ivan's days in Aberdeen, MD. He had taken a trip to Washington DC and he was short a few dollars to get back to the base. An officer in the Army saw his problem and gave him the money he needed. Ivan asked for his address so he could return the money, and the officer replied, "Just do something good to help somebody else sometime." Ivan has done that many times here in Grand Forks. Ivan is survived by his wife, Janet, a daughter, Raquel, two sons, Kevin and Wilbert, and a brother, Donald. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Eugene. Ivan was the brains and often the heart behind Mission Socorro, even though he often referred to Janet as "the mouthpiece." Janet will carry on the work of Mission Socorro in the community, as that was Ivan's wish. Ivan would prefer that memorials be sent to Mission Socorro so the work he loved and began can continue on. He was happiest when he was helping others or talking to children. His body is gone, but his heart and soul will live in Grand Forks for many years.