Obituary: Sidney John Smith

Lifelong Juneau resident Sidney John Smith passed away peacefully in his home on April 2, 2026, surrounded by his loving family.

Sidney John Smith

Sid was born on Aug. 17, 1934, to pioneering dairy farmers Leephonse and Frances Smith. The youngest of six children, he grew up working on the family farm, Smith/Juneau Dairy. He graduated from Juneau High School in 1954 and in his senior yearbook, his last will and testament read: “I, Sidney Smith, leave to the teachers only the pleasant thought that I am the last Smith brother to wander through these hallowed halls.”

Sid joined the U.S. Air Force a couple years later in 1956 and was stationed in Japan. He was honorably discharged so he could return home to help his brother Francis run the family dairy. After the dairy closed in 1965, he worked for his brother Joe at Gastineau Contractors for several years before going to work on the North Slope. He was a proud member of Local 302 Operating Engineers. In 1978, Sid founded his own excavation company, SJS Excavation. He was especially proud of his first excavator, “the Drott,” and his Kenworth dump truck, both of which he owned until the day he died. He retired from the union in 2004, but continued working well into his later years, hauling his last load in May 2025.

Sid was also an early member of the Glacier Valley Volunteer Fire Department and a longtime, loyal member of the Juneau Moose Lodge 700, where his father Lee had been a charter member in 1911.

On April 4, 1964, Sid married the love of his life, Elizabeth Huard-Hester. They celebrated nearly 62 years of marriage. Together they raised three children; Mary Frances, Kathleen, and Todd, on Atlin Drive. For the past 20 years, Sid and Elizabeth enjoyed snowbirding in Yuma, Arizona, and loved traveling together with family and friends, including many memorable cruises and their annual drives to and from Arizona.

Sid was preceded in death by his parents, Leephonse and Frances Smith; his brothers Lee, Joe, Ted, and Francis; his sister Delores; and his grandson Tyler Reid, Niece Sharon Smith, Nephew Thad Smith, and Christian Islas-Stauffer.

He is survived by his wife Elizabeth; daughters Mary Frances (Bruce) Griggs, Kathleen (Don) Martin; son Todd Smith; grandchildren Jaret Reid, Sydnee (Casey) McGinley, Nicholas (Alicia) Martin, Colter Martin, Gabrielle and Johanna Griggs, Austin (Rory) Smith and Brayden Smith; great-grandchildren Andie, Hallie, Holden Reid, Emersyn and Ames McGinley, Marlow and Clover Martin; sisters-in-law Mary Smith, Phyllis Hester, Angie Garner; Nephews Joe, Tim, Ted Smith, Pat Endres, Herb Burns; nieces Gail Sieberts, Chris Thomas, Julia Smith, Becky Smith, Denice McNamee, Charlotte Duncan, Cecelia Rian, Karen Larkin, Jennifer Williamson, Eileen Sundberg, Rachel and Stanley Stauffer, Alisha Sell, Brian Heck; and many more grand-nieces, and grand-nephews, all of whom he loved dearly. He also leaves behind countless cherished friends.

A funeral mass will be held on Monday, July 27, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. at St. Paul’s Catholic Church on Atlin Drive, followed by interment at 3 p.m. at Alaska Memorial Park and a reception at 4 p.m. at the Juneau Moose Lodge 700. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a charity of your choice.