Jun. 21, 1952 - Sep. 1, 2026
Date of Service: Oct. 17, 2026
RUPERT – Glenn E. Smith of Rupert, Idaho, passed away on September 1, 2026, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. He was 74 years old.
Glenn was born on June 21, 1952, to Neal and Jean Smith and spent his entire life in Rupert, alongside his older sister, Jeneal. He attended Minico High School and graduated in 1970.
Glenn met the love of his life, Derry, in June of 1975 at a bar in Twin Falls, Idaho. When they met, Glenn told Derry his name was Buford Jones. As attracted as she was to him, she wasn’t sure she could ever marry a man named Buford. Glenn later explained that he never gave out his real name at the bar, but once he realized Derry was the one, he let her in on the secret and told her his name was Glenn—much to her relief. Just three months later, on September 19, 1975, they were married. This September, they would have celebrated 51 years of marriage.
In July of 1979, Glenn and Derry welcomed their daughter, Stacey. Nothing was more important to Glenn than his daughter. He worked hard and provided Derry and Stacey with the most beautiful life they could have ever asked for. Glenn often said that Derry had the most important job in the world—being Stacey’s mom—and he worked hard to make it possible for her to do just that. When it came to Stacey, the word “no” was rarely in Glenn’s vocabulary.
Glenn also shared a special relationship with his two nephews, Russell and Jason, who affectionately called him “Unc.” The name was a reflection of the special bond they shared and the love they had for him.
Glenn wore many hats throughout his working years. Along with various odd jobs, Glenn and Derry raised beef cattle, opened a restaurant called Take 5 in Rupert, owned a carpet-cleaning business, and Glenn even earned his pilot’s license. Eventually, his career led him to John Deere in Burley, where he sold farm equipment.
For more than 20 years, Glenn built lasting relationships with his customers, many of whom referred to him as “Honest Glenn.” The nickname suited him perfectly. Glenn was a hardworking, dependable, and honest man who took great pride in doing things the right way.
Glenn always had a project going, but perhaps the one he was most proud of was the home he built alongside his father, wife, and daughter. For nearly 20 years, Glenn designed and built what became known as the “Igloo House.” He poured his heart, time, and incredible attention to detail into creating the home. It was a project that reflected Glenn perfectly—he was a man who could dream something up, figure out how to make it work, and then put in whatever time and effort it took to make it happen.
Throughout their marriage, Glenn and Derry enjoyed many wonderful vacations and countless weekends riding four-wheelers. For many years, the Fourth of July meant loading up the four-wheelers and heading to Jarbidge. Those trips became some of Derry’s favorite memories and were a special part of the life they built together.
Stacey and her husband, Jereud, added three grandchildren to the family: Teagan, Brogan, and Kaybree. They brought an incredible amount of joy into Glenn’s life. He loved riding four-wheelers with the boys and playing board games with Kaybree. His grandchildren will forever carry the memories of their grandpa as he was before Alzheimer’s slowly robbed them of time with him.
Of all the things his family will miss, perhaps what they will miss most is his storytelling. Glenn told the best stories. Some of Stacey’s favorite memories are of sitting around the table with her dad, listening to him tell a story while everyone laughed so hard that tears streamed down their faces. Those moments captured Glenn perfectly—the people he loved gathered around him, laughing, listening, and simply enjoying being together.
Alzheimer’s changed the final years of Glenn’s life, but it could never take away the life he built, the home he created, the love he gave, or the memories he left behind. The disease may have taken pieces of the man his family knew, but it could never erase the husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend he had been for so many years.
Glenn is survived by his wife, Derry; his daughter, Stacey, and her husband, Jereud Uscola; his grandchildren, Teagan Uscola (Destiny) and their daughters, Skylar and Saige; Brogan Uscola (Desteny) and their daughter, Oaklynn; and Kaybree Uscola. Along with his honorary daughter Crystal Wilkinson May. He is also survived by his sister, Jeneal Chapman; and his nephews, Russell and Jason Kocherhans.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Neal and Jean Smith.
A Celebration of Life open house will be held on Saturday, October 17, 2026, from 1:00 until 5:00 p.m. at Doc’s Pizza in Rupert, Idaho.
Family and friends are invited to stop by, visit with the family, share stories, and tell a favorite memory of Glenn.
His life was built on hard work, love, family, and a whole lot of stories. While he will be deeply missed, the memories he gave us will live on in the hearts of everyone who knew and loved him.
