Walter Schmidt

Walter Ernest Schmidt was born on November 19, 1922, in Turtle Lake, WI, the son of Ernest A. and Lydia M. Schmidt. He was baptized on December 25, 1922 and confirmed in the Lutheran faith at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Montevideo on April 10, 1938. He attended elementary school and high school in Montevideo and graduated in 1943. Walter proudly served his country during WWII in the European Theatre of Operations from 1943 to 1946 and following his honorable discharge, returned home to be united in marriage to Velma M. Bjornstad at the St. Paul Lutheran Parsonage on March 16, 1947. Walter worked for Alder Hanson in the construction business for a time and then attended Masonry School in Little Falls. He returned home and was employed by Peterson Brothers Construction, Hempel Brothers Construction and eventually began Schmidt Masonry.Throughout his life, Walter was a hard worker. In his spare time he enjoyed playing cards, bowling, camping and visiting with his family, fishing and hunting pheasants and ducks. He especially cherished the time he spent with his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. He was an active, faithful member of St. Paul Lutheran Church and served as Sunday School Superintendent, Sunday school teacher, church Elder and as congregational president. He was also a supporting member of the local VFW post #380 and American Legion Post #59. Up until his health became an issue, Walter always kept abreast of all current events and the ever changing political scene.Walter died peacefully early Thursday morning, July 12, 2012, while a resident of Luther Haven Nursing Home. He was 89 years of age.Surviving family include his wife of 65 years- Velma, of Montevideo; his children- Dianne (& Vince) Welling of Milan, JoAnne (& Delano) Schrupp of Montevideo, Neil (& Dawn) Schmidt of Montevideo, Elise (& Wayne) Shequen of Pine River, Paula (& Paul) Sachariason of Montevideo, and Yvette (& John) Lyngen of Montevideo; 18 grandchildren; 26 great grandchildren; one brother Arthur Schmidt of Rice Lake, WI; 3 sisters- Dorothy Greseth of Prescott, AZ; Ella Larson of Montevideo, Bernice (& Don) Mullins of Texas and a sister-in-law Lorraine Kasper of Eau Clair, WI. He was preceded in death by his parents; one sister- Virginia Paul and 3 brothers- Edgar Kasper, Ernest Kasper and Paul Schmidt.