Smith Downtown Funeral Chapel

Veteran services at Smith Downtown Funeral Chapel

Smith Downtown Funeral Chapel in Billings, MT supports veteran families with military funeral arrangements. In their own words: "Smith Funeral Chapels provides comprehensive services for veterans, including coordinating military funeral honors such as the folding and presentation of the American flag, the playing of Taps, a three-volley rifle salute, casket draping with the U.S. flag, and a final gravesite salute. They assist families with verifying eligibility through DD-214 discharge papers and help navigate U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits. These benefits can include obtaining a Presidential Memorial Certificate, arranging for headstones or markers, securing memorial plots, facilitating burial in a VA national cemetery, and providing information on potential reimbursement of burial expenses." On-site amenities include funeral chapel, suited to flag presentation and honors ceremonies. Published pricing lists $2,155 for basic burial and $1,995 for direct cremation. Veterans may qualify for county or federal allowances toward these costs.

Veteran-related services offered include burial services, cremation services, memorials & celebrations, and veteran services. Each service is coordinated with the family and, where applicable, with the deceased's last unit or branch honor detail.

On-site facilities of note include funeral chapel. These spaces accommodate full military honors details, family gatherings before and after the service, and the placement of the United States flag during the visitation period.

Published pricing at Smith Downtown Funeral Chapel: direct cremation from $2,170. That places direct cremation roughly 8% below the Montana median ($2,367). Veterans who served on active duty for at least 24 months may qualify for VA burial allowance to offset funeral costs — this home accepts assignment of those benefits where eligible.

The nearest VA national cemetery is Yellowstone National Cemetery in MT, approximately 14 miles from Smith Downtown Funeral Chapel. Smith Downtown Funeral Chapel can coordinate transport, scheduling with the cemetery's interment office, and the timing of military honors with the receiving committal shelter.

Montana has approximately 100 licensed funeral homes serving its population, of which a subset specifically lists military funeral honors and VA benefits assistance among their services. Smith Downtown Funeral Chapel is among them.

Frequently asked questions

What sets Smith Downtown Funeral Chapel apart

• Established in 1896, providing over a century of service in the Billings area.
• Operates multiple locations across Billings (two), Laurel, Columbus, and Red Lodge, Montana.
• Offers specialized green burial options for environmentally conscious individuals.
• Provides comprehensive veteran services, including coordination of military honors and VA benefits.
• Extensive preplanning resources available online and through personalized consultations, including a detailed checklist.
• Emphasis on personalization for all service types (funeral, cremation, burial) to reflect individual legacies.

Military & veteran services offered

Burial & cremation services

On-site facilities

Affiliations & specializations

Religious traditions & languages

Religious traditions accommodated: Methodist, Christian (Nondenominational), Mennonite.

How honors are coordinated

Military funeral honors are guaranteed at no cost for any veteran discharged under conditions other than dishonorable. The funeral home arranges the honors detail by contacting the deceased's last unit or the nearest active-duty installation of the appropriate branch and submitting the DD-214 to verify eligibility.

For requests less than 72 hours from service time, families can call the Department of Defense's expedited honors line at 1-877-MIL-HONR (1-877-645-4667). See the full honors protocol.