Todd Shane Smith

In Loving Memory Of

Todd Shane Smith

December 23, 1969 ~ October 23, 2019

Age 49 Years

                Todd Shane Smith, 49, passed away peacefully at home on Wednesday, October 23, after a courageous battle with cholangiocarcinoma cancer.

                Todd, born and raised on the family farm, attended elementary and high school in Hamiota. Attending a small high school afforded him the opportunity to play every sport offered and he took full advantage: soccer, volleyball, basketball, badminton, track and in his final year he was chosen male athlete of the year. Academics, drama and student council played a role in his selection in his graduating year as The Student Contributing Most to Hamiota Collegiate.

                 Coached by dad Bryan he played on competitive community hockey and baseball teams through those years. The year he was 12 he played on three hockey teams! A hockey highlight was the winning of the Greg Mann Memorial Digger Award at the Tournament of Champions – the first time the award was presented.

                Upon graduation Todd headed to Bismarck State College on a baseball scholarship and after 2 years transferred to the University of North Dakota to complete his Finance degree and play for the Fighting Sioux.

                As the starting shortstop he was a member of the 1993 UND team that won the Northern Conference and went on to compete in the College World Series in Montgomery, Alabama. Later the team was inducted into the UND Sports Hall of Fame.

                Summers during those school years were taken up with summer jobs and always baseball – first with the 1986-1990 Hamiota Red Sox teams that were inducted into the Manitoba Baseball Hall of Fame in 2012 and then the 1995 & 1996 Weyburn Beavers team that won the National Men’s Baseball Championship in 1996 and was later inducted into the Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame.

                Always the starting shortstop it was fun to watch him play as he was speedy on the base paths, had good range, a strong steady arm and a good bat winning the batting title one year in the Manitoba league and coming second in the Saskatchewan league in 1995 with a .406 average.

                With a wealth of experience under his belt he headed south and played one year of semi pro baseball with Chillicothe Paints in the 8 team Frontier League.

                Following his year in Chillicothe he moved to Denver where he continued to remain active albeit on a different level. He played baseball, enjoyed softball for a number of years and once Tatianna and Hailey became busy he joined a Sunday morning hockey league playing his last game in August.

                His closest friends came from the sports community: softball and hockey players and volleyball parents - an amazing group of people. With today’s technology he was able to keep in touch with many he played with over the years.

                In Denver he began his career in the world of finance working for Merrill Lynch. That was followed by years as a financial analyst working for various companies in the field of health care, most recently as Manager Enterprise Net Revenue for Catholic Health Initiatives which merged this year with Dignity Health to become Common Spirit Health. In his position he was responsible for determining and reporting on the net revenue for 10 hospitals in the Pacific Northwest. Todd loved the challenge of his job and was always looking for new, better, and more efficient ways of doing things. Over the years he considered many co-workers as friends and mentored some who considered him a kind and patient teacher.

                Todd spent the first half of his life pursuing his dreams and beginning his career and for the last 20, outside of work, his sole focus and purpose in life had been to provide his daughters, Tatianna and Hailey, with a solid foundation and the opportunities to pursue their interest and dreams. All recounting of his life must include them, and show how determined he was to see them be successful, how much he gave of himself to them, how much he loved them and how they have responded to that love and dedication.

                Tatianna, 20, a competitive gymnast until age 11 having competed at Level 9, played softball for 2 years and then played competitive volleyball on school and club teams through middle and high school. With a natural intellect and exceptional study habits she graduated high school with several college level courses and a 3.8 G.P.A. Now a Junior in Civil Engineering at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, with a 3.5 GPA, she is fulfilling her dream surrounded by good friends and a strong support system.

                Hailey, 16, tried soccer and figure skating while in elementary school and then found her true passion in the world of dance. Having tried all forms from hip hop to contemporary, it was ballet she loved. After a year in middle school she transferred to a dance academy which allowed her to take ballet classes all morning and complete her academics on-line. Highlights were attending the 2017 Vail Summer Dance Festival and a role in the Dec. 2018 Production of the Nutcracker. Now back in public school and a member of the Poms team, Hailey is blessed to have new guardians, Dave and Carolyn Shaw, an amazing couple who will love her as one of their own and allow her to stay in Denver, the only world she has ever known - an arrangement Todd made when he was unsure of his future.

                Todd, Tatianna and Hailey’s lives were not always easy; they had their struggles, their ups and downs, but there were definitely more good times than bad. They came through everything as a team and the bond only grew stronger. They depended on each other, trusted one another and the love for each other will always be there.

                Todd is survived by his daughters Tatianna and Hailey; parents Bryan and Carol; brothers Darren and Jason, sister-in-law Nancy, niece Danika and nephew Carson; and a large extended family of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins.

                A family interment in Hamiota will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations for the girls’ education can be made to Jason Smith, executor.

Jason Smith

Box 664

Hamiota, MB R0M0T0

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