Ernest Martin Steelsmith, Sr. of Boise, Idaho, died April 11, 2005 at the age of 93.

Ernie was born August 10, 1911 at Sheridan, Indiana to Jacob M. and Ida Belle (Padget) Steelsmith. While he was a small child, the family moved to Kimberly, Idaho where Ernie grew up and graduated from Kimberly High School in 1929. After high school, he attended Kansas State Agricultural College in Manhattan, Kansas and later Santa Monica Junior College in Santa Monica, California.

He held various jobs prior to entering military service in World War II, including becoming a licensed mortician, working in funeral homes in Burley, Gooding and Mountain Home, Idaho.

In March 1936 he married Casilda "Cassie" Wright in Burley, Idaho. She died in December, 1980. He later married Beatrice "Bea" Shepherd in August 1986. She preceded him in death in February, 1999.

Ernie served several years in the Idaho National Guard then entered the Army of the United States in September 1941 at the beginning of World War II. He served in the Pacific Theater in Australia and New Guinea before receiving a medical discharge in 1945 with the rank of Major.

Upon release from military duty he returned to Burley, where he owned and operated the Rupert-Burley Credit Association and Collection Bureau. In 1951 he moved to Boise, Idaho to become credit manager of the Sawtooth Company. In April, 1960 be began work in the Payroll Division of the Idaho State Auditors Office in Boise. He retired from that position in 1976.

He was a member of American Legion Post #17 and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows #118 at Burley, Idaho. For 53 years, he was a member of Red Rock Christian Church in Boise, where he served over the years as Elder, Teacher, Board Chairman, and Chairman of many committees. Ernie loved to travel and visited much of the United States.

Survivors include a daughter Josephine Willmorth and her husband John of Caldwell, Idaho; a son Ernest M. Steelsmith, Jr. and his wife Ruth of Nampa, Idaho; a daughter Judith Wayenberg and her husband Bruce of Grangeville, Idaho; a son David Steelsmith and his wife Kim of Eatonville, Washington; a daughter Mary Steelsmith Lee and her husband Steve of Los Angeles, California; two stepchildren and their spouses, Howard and Bonnie Shepherd of Clackamas, Oregon and Janis and Loyd Englehorn of Boise, Idaho; 23 grandchildren; and 33 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by five brothers and three sisters.

Burial services will be held at 10:00am on Saturday, April 16, 2005 at Dry Creek Cemetery, followed at 11:00 a.m. by a memorial service at Red Rock Christian Church, 1124 So. Roosevelt St., Boise. Friends are invited to attend both services. His family will greet friends at a visitation from 6:00 pm. until 8:00 pm. at the Alden-Waggoner Funeral Chapel, 5400 Fairview Ave.

Memorials may be made to the Red Rock Christian Church Building Fund or your favorite charity.