SMITH , Benjamin L. (Les)

Black’s Show Low Mortuary, Show Low, Arizona Benjamin L. Smith (April 14, 1920 - June 10, 2013) B. L. "Les" Smith, born April 14, 1920, passed away June 10, 2013 at his home in Lakeside, AZ. Les is survived by his wife of almost 70 years, Julia, and their three children, Richard ( Amy), Kent and Leslie Diane, four grandchildren, Laura, Donna, Bret and Clayton and their spouses, four great-grandchildren, Kala, Dylan, Kyleigh and Bailey, and one great-great granddaughter, Ava Jade. Les was born in Tulsa, OK and came to AZ as an infant with his parents who settled in Cave Creek. Les rode a horse to school in Cave Creek, in a building built by his father and friends, when he was not camped out in remote AZ areas where his father was helping to build bridges and tunnels in the mountains of the state he loved. Les grew up knowing and loving the terrain, flora and fauna of Arizona and was an avid outdoorsman and enthusiastic hunter for all of his life. Les served in the Army Engineers during WWII and worked building the Alcan Highway where, he was fond of saying, "even gasoline would freeze". Les and Judy were married before the end of WWII and shortly after the wars' end they started the B & B Lumber and Hardware Co. on East Washington St. in Phoenix. The business thrived in the post-war building boom and later, the B & B supplied cement for many thousands of backyard swimming pools built in the Valley. Upon retirement, Les and Judy moved to Lakeside where Les sold real estate and they both enjoyed the four seasons and snow-mobiling. The spirit of this Outdoorsman remains strong in Les's heirs, as they are all active in outdoor sports. Les is pre-deceased by his parents and one sister, Mary Louise. A celebration of Les’s life will be held on Friday, June 21, 2013 at 2 PM at Black’s Show Low Mortuary. Interment will be at the U.S. National Memorial Cemetery in Phoenix at a later date.