FAIRMONT - Richard Smith was still working as a trucker in July 2007 when it was time for his annual physical. Four months later, he died of cancers believed to be brought on by exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam.
"There was a small lump on his jaw, and he complained of some pain in his lower back," explained Marklynn Smith, his wife. "But he was a trucker and he thought it was just one of those things. He was doing this job at 62 while the other guys were about 42."
During Richard's work-required physical, that small lump and back pain led to more tests and many trips back and forth to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester.
"He was suffering from more than one type of cancer, and the lung cancer was believed to be from Agent Orange," Smith said.
Richard volunteered to join the Army during the war, despite the fact that as a boy he did not enjoy playing war games or with guns.
"It's something you do for someone else; that's the type of person he was," Smith said. "He was a first lieutenant and he earned the Bronze Star. He was like a big brother to his men, and he brought that protective mentality back with him and he was protective of me and protected his children. He wanted his children to know why he went to 'Nam, and he never lost his soldier's heart."
From August to October of last year, the Smiths were traveling back and forth to the veterans hospital in Sioux Falls, S.D.
"There were tumors on his brain, on his kidneys," Smith recalled. "In the last four weeks, he couldn't even walk. He started failing really fast. We thought there was a tumor pressing on the spinal cord, but it was in the spinal cord."
The final two weeks, the family moved Richard into hospice care.
"We could see he wasn't getting better," Smith said. "Some questioned our decision and wanted us to keep testing, but we knew that wasn't what he wanted."
Life has been rough for the family since losing Richard. All the tests left the family with tremendous medical expenses during a time when they had no medical insurance. Smith and her youngest daughter are also moving out of what was their family home.
"It's just too painful," Smith admits. "The kids don't want me to throw anything away, but having everything around hurts too much. Plus now that we're moving, it's just more stuff to move."
A benefit at the Grace Lutheran Church on Sunday is not merely a benefit to help the family with expenses, but also is meant to be a gathering to help give closure and healing to everyone who knew Richard.
"This is as much for them as for us," Smith said. "I know some people are uncomfortable about these things, but this is more about helping give some closure. People ask what they can do ... And I think this is a good way to help let my children know that there are a lot of people here who still care about them. It's more for them than anything."
A spaghetti dinner will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sunday at the church. Fairmont Thrivent Financial Chapter will supplement donations.
Donations for the Marklynn and Richard Smith family also are being accepted at Profinium Bank.
