OFFICER MICHAEL L. SMIDT

ID 3427

SDPD 08/19/1982 - 08/23/1985

08/29/1957 - 11/04/2026

THE THIN BLUE LINE

Michael Lloyd Smidt, 69, of Mapleton, Utah, passed away on Wednesday, November 4, 2026. A devoted husband, father, grandfather, soldier, and disciple of Jesus Christ. Mike lived a life defined by faith, service, adventure, courage, and love of family.

Born in Oakland, California to Joseph Ray Smidt and Barbara Margaret Ebnet, Mike was the oldest of four boys. He graduated from Granite Hills High School where he played football and baseball.

After high school, Mike joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served three years in the U.S. Army with the 82nd Airborne Division. Following his military service, he began dating Sandra Beth Cole, the love of his life. While serving a mission in Tokyo, Japan, the two exchanged letters every week, deepening their love despite the distance. They married on November 14, 1981, in the Los Angeles California Temple, beginning 45 wonderful years of marriage.

Mike served as a San Diego police officer while attending school and also served as a reservist with the 12th Special Forces Group (Abn). After graduating from California Western School of Law, he worked for the San Diego City Attorney’s Office. Driven by his love for the military, Mike returned to the U.S. Army as a Judge Advocate General (JAG) officer, ultimately completing 41 years of distinguished military service.

Mike loved and excelled at special operations serving with the 82nd Airborne Division, U.S. Army Special Forces (Green Berets), and U.S. Special Operations Command. His service included deployments to Operations Desert Storm, Uphold Democracy, Iraqi Freedom, and New Dawn. As an operational JAG officer, he advised military commanders on the legal and ethical challenges of complex operations. Mike played a key and integral role in a Special Mission Unit during the early days of the war against terror. Mike taught at the Army JAG School at the University of Virginia, attended the U.S. Army War College, and served as a military Jumpmaster in his many years on airborne status. He retired a Colonel in 2017.

Post military, Mike and Sandy settled in Mapleton, Utah where Mike served as a professor for Utah Valley University. Later, he and Sandy returned to their roots and served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in San Antonio, TX, and Service Missionary Advisors in Mapleton.

Throughout their marriage, Mike and Sandy raised four children throughout 17 different locations. Despite the demands of military life, his greatest devotion remained his family.

Mike embraced adventure with enthusiasm and had a wonderful sense of humor. He loved Harley-Davidson motorcycles, dirt bikes, scuba diving, and jumping out of perfectly good airplanes. He hiked much of the Pacific Crest Trail and biked from Canada to Mexico with his brothers.

Mike is survived by his beloved wife, Sandy; their four children, Joseph (Esther) Smidt of Los Alamos, New Mexico; Ryan (Kara) Smidt of South Weber, Utah; Kimberly (Randy) Gardner of Katy, Texas; Kaitlyn (Joshua) Unger of Spring, Texas; his mother, Barbara Smidt of Coeur d’Alene, ID; his brothers Jim, Tim, and Mark, along with sixteen living grandchildren.

Funeral services held on Saturday November 28, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, located at 1350 West 800 South, Mapleton, Utah. Interment at the Mapleton City Cemetery.

Mike leaves a legacy of faith, honor, service, courage, and devotion to family. His adventurous spirit and love for those around him will be remembered by all who knew him.

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