On Sunday, Oct. 20, 2013, James Lynn Smith, “Jimmy Diesel,” 66, died at his home in Billings. He was born Oct. 9, 1947, in Billings, the oldest son of Eugene “Gene” and Georgie (Overstreet) Smith. In 1965 he graduated from Senior High School. On April 16, 1969, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and was honorably discharged March 16, 1971. Jim married Cindi Taylor; they later divorced.

Jim began work at Holman GM Diesel, now Interstate PowerSystems, in 1972 as a diesel mechanic and held numerous positions in his 38-year career. He was respectfully known as Jimmy Diesel and mentored many of the new employees. He spent several years as a field technician chasing the oil rigs until he took a position as engine rebuild foreman and then became fabrication foreman overseeing the manufacture of custom generator sets and high technology oil and gas equipment.