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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to 
3learn of the death of  Blair E. Smestad of Champaign, who passed 
4away on November 5, 2015; and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, Blair Smestad was born on April 9, 1925 in 
6Bemidji, Minnesota; he was adopted by Annie and William Smestad 
7at the age of 6 months and grew up with them in Granite Falls, 
8Minnesota; he later reconnected with his birth mother, Selma 
9Dokken Maher, and met his brothers and sisters; and
  
 
10    WHEREAS, Blair Smestad served in the United States Army Air 
11Corps at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.; he was a licensed 
12pilot and an instructor and manager of the flight school at 
13Chanute Air Force Base in Rantoul; he also served as a nursing 
14home administrator and in various other capacities; and
  
 
15    WHEREAS, Blair Smestad was a member and elder at the 
16Champaign Seventh-Day Adventist Church for nearly 50 years; as 
17a member of the church, he led Bible studies, preached, and 
18sang special music for his fellow believers; and
  
 
19    WHEREAS, Blair Smestad was preceded in death by his 
20parents; his brothers, Bob and Darrell Maher; his sons, Rick 
21Smestad and Larry Smestad; his grandson, Eric Smestad; and his 
 
 
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1daughter-in-law, Donna Smestad; and
  
 
2    WHEREAS, Blair Smestad is survived by his wife of 65 years, 
3Lois Danielson Smestad; his children, Ann (Don) King and Brad 
4(Deb) Smestad; his daughter-in-law, Tammy Smestad Cranston 
5(Bob); his sisters, Pat (Hollis) Schwartz, Nancy (Dave) Andre, 
6and Sally (Duwayn) Kirkvoid; his nephew, Paul (Marge) Maher; 
7his 7 grandchildren; and his 11 great-grandchildren; 
8therefore, be it
  
 
9    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL 
10ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we, along with his 
11family and friends, mourn the passing of Blair E. Smestad; and 
12be it further
  
 
13    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
14presented to the family of Blair Smestad as an expression of 
15our sympathy.