Earl Schmidt

Earl Schmidt, son of David G. and Katherine (Friesen) Schmidt was born 1 1/2 mile east of Delft, MN on January 20, 1928. He attennded country school in District 12 and 32 and in Mountain Lake Public School. Earl was baptized on May 16, 1948 upon confession of his faith and was received into membership at Bethel Mennonite Church in Mountain Lake. He remained a member at Bethel his entire life. In January of 1946 Earl boarded the ship S.S. Virginian to bring horses and cattle to a war torn Poland. He married Vesta Stahl in Bethel Mennonite Church on June 2nd, 1949. Earl worked with his father digging wells before starting his own tiling/excavation business. He and Vesta built and operated a motel and mobile home park in Mt. Lake. He enjoyed driving and wrenching on race cars at Jackson Speedway and riding and racing snowmobiles. He also bowled, hunted and fished during his lifetime. He especially liked spending time at the cabin on Rice Lake near Paynesville, MN. Earl and Vesta have been fortunate to be able to spend the last few winters in Florida with a nephew, Perry. Earl has been a member of the Jaycees, a trustee and usher at church, and cleaned snow off lots at church, friends and family for many years. Earl was admitted to St. Mary's in Rochester on June 30, 2006. After many procedures and extensive testing he was transferred to Good Samaritan Village in Mountain Lake for therapy. He passed away on July 22, 2006 at Good Samaritan Village. He attainedthe age of 78 years, 6 months and 2 days. Survivors include his wife, Vesta; four daughters, Carla (Roger) Rahn of Mt. Lake, Sandy (Dale) Winters of Barnhart, MO, Sherry Warmka of Easton, Nene (Dean) Smestad of Windom, a son, Keith Schmidt of Gentry, AK, 13 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. He will also be missed by a sister Verna (Joel) Stoesz of Mt. Lake, Darlene and Wilmar Buller and Delbert and Sylvia Riter, and many nieces and nephews.Precedeing him in death were his parents, brother and sister-in-law, Abe and Mable Schmidt, grandson Jason Winters and a son-in-law Ken Warmka.