Britton Smith

Britton Wayne Smith, of Minneapolis, died September 4, 2023 at his home. He was born in St. Cloud, Minnesota, on October 31, 1974. As a child, Britt was delighted that all he had to do was ring a doorbell and people would magically give him candy on his birthday.

Britt graduated from Cotter High School in 1993. The family purchased their first home computer, a Texas Instruments, for Christmas of 1979, and while his parents were worrying over the directions, Britt (5 yrs. Old) and his brother Jason (9 yrs. old) had already hooked it up. He spent the rest of his life in the technology business and maintained a love of everything computers: he devoured Computer Magazines (which everyone else found boring) and tried every new computer game. He first worked at Vangard Technology in Winona, where he wired Cotter HS for computer technology. A month after his high school graduation, he was teaching the Cotter teachers how to use their new computers, which was a great thrill for him! From Vangard, he moved on to Engineering Animation in Ames, Iowa, then to Minneapolis where he worked at Digital River, Reeher, and finally Blackbaud, where he was the A Team Lead Software Engineer.

Britt was introduced to the Mississippi River at the age of one. He loved the river and enjoyed knee boarding, boating on his SeaRay and camping on the River with the guys.

He also enjoyed biking on the trails around Minneapolis. He was a patron of local artists, visited many art fairs and bought art. His friends know Britt had an unusual taste in music. He enjoyed many different music venues and followed local musicians. Britt played trumpet in his HS band, but, like many young guys, switched to a guitar after HS. He had many sessions with friends just jamming and having fun.

He watched both the Minnesota Wild and Chicago Blackhawks. Britt liked to hang out with his friends around campfires where they told many tales (both accurate and enhanced). He also liked to meet friends at neighborhood eateries, especially the Town Talk Diner, in Minneapolis, where a menu item was named after him. According to his friends, Britt had a dry sense of humor, could lighten a mood with his goofiness, and was always there when needed.

If a person can be judged by their pets, Britt would get a STAR rating. Homeless, needy cats seemed to find him. He was the Human to Mocha, Shinobe, Boots, and lately Gator and Joker. Britt leaves behind his parents, Sherman and Lori Smith, and his brother and sister-in-law, Jason and Anne Smith, and their children, Elaina, Tyler, Aaron, and Dave, and ex-wife, Sandra Carter Smith, and two cats. He will be missed by special friends, Aaron, Chris, Dan, Nicole, Olivia, Paul, and Varinh, and his aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins.

For those who wish to donate in Britt's memory, the family recommends:

Cotter High School
Hiawatha Education Foundation Scholarship
1115 West Broadway, Winona, MN 55987

or

Your local Humane Society.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, September 23, 2023 from 1:00p.m. to 3:00p.m at Hoff Celebration of Life Center in Goodview, MN.