A quiet, sharp-witted man with a wry smile, Dana Craig Smith was a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel and a beloved husband, father, and grandfather. The 73-year-old male was known for being incredibly organized, a quality that led to the loving description of him as a man who was always "on top of on top of." Born in Worland, Wyoming, he was the oldest of four children.
After graduating from Laramie High School, he attended the University of Wyoming, where he joined the Air Force ROTC and met his wife, Barbara. They married on August 10, 1974, and recently celebrated their 52nd anniversary. Dana graduated with a degree in Business in 1976 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Air Force, retiring in 1996 as a lieutenant colonel. He then began a second career with Boeing in Washington state as a purchasing agent and trainer, retiring about a decade before his death.
Dana and Barbara had two children, a son and a daughter named Megan. They followed Megan and her children to Billings, Montana, after she relocated from the Seattle area. Dana cherished his role as "Papa" and had a soft spot for his grandchildren. He was an avid fisherman and clammer who loved the oceans, lakes, and rivers of the Pacific Northwest and served as president of a Trout Unlimited chapter in Seattle. He and Barbara enjoyed traveling the world with friends and searching for gems and fossils. He inherited a love for music and cars from his father and was a lifelong friend to many in Laramie, Washington, and Billings.
The evening of Sunday, August 23, 2026, was meant for a weekly family dinner at the home Dana and Barbara owned at 315 White Star Circle, just west of Billings. Four generations of their family had gathered. The gathering turned tragic when their 44-year-old son, Alan Michael Smith, arrived unexpectedly around 5:49 p.m. Just weeks prior, Dana and Barbara had asked Alan, who had been living with them for years, to move out. Around 6:01 p.m., a 911 call was made from the home by 12-year-old Charlotte Ghekiere, one of Dana's grandchildren, reporting a family disturbance. Alan opened fire on his family members and set multiple fires inside the house.
When Yellowstone County Sheriff's deputies arrived at 6:12 p.m., they saw Alan in the front yard. He retreated inside the now-burning home. Officers heard more gunfire before Alan ran into the backyard, where he was found with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. The house was engulfed in flames, and firefighters battled the blaze until 1 a.m. The response was hampered because the subdivision, located outside city limits, did not have fire hydrants. The fire destroyed the home down to its foundation, complicating the investigation.
Dana Smith was killed in his home alongside his wife, Barbara; his 92-year-old mother, Evelyn, who was visiting from her nearby retirement community; his daughter, Megan Ireland-Ghekiere, 39; and his four grandchildren: Landon Ghekiere, 15, Charlotte Ghekiere, 12, Owen Ireland, 13, and Chloe Ireland, 7. The mass killing was the 22nd in the United States in 2026 and the deadliest in Montana's history. The Yellowstone County Sheriff's Office led the investigation. Sheriff Kent O'Donnell described the family as "your typical American household" and called the event a devastating tragedy.
In the days that followed, a makeshift memorial of teddy bears and photos grew outside the ruined home. On Thursday, August 27, hundreds of people from the Billings community gathered for a candlelight vigil at Veterans Park to honor the eight victims. Speakers, including friends and local personalities, shared memories of each family member. Dana's massage therapist, Ann Lewis, was among those who spoke, eulogizing him. The city helped sponsor the event, and crisis counselors were present to support the grieving community.
The case is considered solved as the primary suspect, Alan Michael Smith, died by suicide on the day of the killings. A graveside service for Dana and Barbara Smith was held on Monday, September 28, 2026, at Yellowstone National Cemetery, followed by a community gathering. The investigation by the Yellowstone County Sheriff's Office concluded that Alan Smith was the sole perpetrator. As of September 2026, the family and community continued to mourn their profound loss.
