Sally Smith Venard

Sally Ann Venard, 76, was born Nov 2, 1945, to Carl M and Sealy J Smith in North Bend, Oregon.  She spent her childhood in and around Florence, Oregon, graduating from Siuslaw High in 1963.  She moved to Montana in 1968.  She spent the next years of her life in service to her church and dedicated to serving her family and raising her daughter Janna and her son Timothy.  She was very active in their lives, volunteering at their school, coaching softball, attending school functions, piano recitals, band concerts, teaching Sunday school and leading other children’s programming at church.  She also taught her kids to share her love of the ocean and the mountains. 

 In 1985, even though she “wasn’t sure she was smart enough”, she decided to go back to college.  While continuing to run the household and support her kids, she worked hard and earned a bachelor’s degree from Yellowstone Baptist College.  She went on to earn a Master of Psychology from California Coast University.   In 1988 she found her dream job.  She began working at Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch in Billings, MT.  Over the next 34 years, she served the youth and the staff faithfully beginning with working directly with the kids and then moving to other positions. After periods of time as a unit manager, program director, group homes director, community-based services manager, and safety director, she ended up in Human Resources as a coordinator where she was able to serve in many different capacities.  The YBGR people became like family to her, and she found fulfillment in being able to serve there. 

This April her life was invaded by the horrible beast of Carcinosarcoma.  She fought a tough, faith-filled battle with it, but after 3 short months, the fight became too much for her body and on July 20, 2022 she went home to meet the Savior that she loved and undoubtedly heard “Well done, my faithful servant”.

Her life can be best summed up as a life of service.  She served her family.  She served her churches, first Lockwood Evangelical Church and then New Hope Church of the Nazarene. She served the residents and staff of YBGR.  Most importantly to her, she did her best to faithfully serve her Savior, Jesus Christ.

Sally will be greatly missed by so many people.  She leaves behind her daughter, Janna (Paul) Pyle, her much adored grandson Asa Pyle, her son Timothy (Shane) Weigel-Venard, her sister Jodie Hoover, her brother Dewayne Smith, her sister-in-law Shirley Smith and so many others who were more than just friends – they were truly family. You all know who you are - too many to name individually. 

She was predeceased by her parents, her brother Jack Smith, and her brother-in-law Hank Hoover.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, July 26th at 1pm at Alsip Funeral Chapel, Nampa Idaho and will be live streamed with interment to be held at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens immediately following.  A memorial service will also be held at a later date in Billings, Montana.

Memorials may be given to New Hope Church of the Nazarene, 25 Hilltop, Billings, MT 59105, the YBGR Foundation, or to the service charity of your choice.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Sally Smith Venard, please visit our floral store.