Shelley (Grauberger) Smith

Shelley Smith, 72, of Hardin, passed away peacefully in her home on January 29, 2025, surrounded by her husband, daughter, and very close friend Chris Schneider, after a long fight with lung disease.

Shelley was born on May 15, 1952 in Billings, Montana.  She lived in Billings until 1983, when she moved to Hardin and started a life with her husband, Chris and their daughter Christina.  They married on June 29, 1985 and began their long life together.

Shelley worked for many years at Sweetheart Bakery and American Linen while she was in Billings.  When she moved to Hardin she worked at L&B’s Last Stop, washed dishes at Merry Mixer Cafe, then started Shelley’s Daycare.  For 30 years she shared her home and love with hundreds of children, building memories with them, and later even with some of their children.  Those kids loved her so much they would ask to see Grandma Shelley and Grandpa Chris even on their days home.  She was truly blessed to have so many children and families have such an impact on her life.

Shelley loved spending summer weekends with her family at Yellowtail Dam, riding the jet skis and hanging out on the boat.  Her grandchildren have many fond memories of visiting Grandma and Grandpa out on the water.  She also loved capturing life’s special moments through photographs, which she painstakingly turned into dozens of scrapbooks and photo albums containing both her family memories and those of the many children she cared for over the years.

Shelley was preceded in death by Granny Alyce and Grandpa Bill Smith.  She is survived by her sweetheart and devoted caretaker Chris Smith, daughter Christina ‘Chris’ Shelton Renova-Diaz and her husband Ludvin Diaz of Blackfoot, Idaho, grandchildren Tianna ‘Titi’ Renova of Boise, Idaho, Marisol Sandoval and Jaxon Diaz, and two great grandbabies, Oliver and Aristeo, all of Blackfoot, Idaho.  She also held a very special place in her heart for Lisa and Paula and their families.

A celebration of life will be held Wednesday, February 19, 2025 11am – 2pm at Bullis Family Center.  Please post memories, photos and condolences on the online Memory book at https://www.bullismortuary.com/obituary/Shelley-Smith?utm_campaign=marquee-share-button&utm_term=copy-link&utm_content=Share Obituary to be later published into a photo book for the family to cherish as Shelley would have done.  In lieu of flowers, please consider contributing to the finishing touches on Shelley’s final arrangements; deposits can be made into her account at Little Horn Bank in and around Hardin, or sent directly to her funeral fund via Venmo to daughter Chris @Chris-Diaz-52 

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