Verna Schmidt

Verna Schmidt 92 of Webster passed away Saturday September 1, 2012 surrounded by her loving family. Her funeral will be 2:00 P.M. Wednesday September 5, 2012 at the United Methodist Church in Webster. Visitation will be 5 – 7 P.M. Tuesday at Fiksdal Funeral Service in Webster and an hour prior to the service Wednesday at the church. Verna Dorothy (Prieb) Schmidt was born August 27, 1920 to William and Lena (Schwartz) Prieb on the family farm near Butler. She was the oldest of 3 children. Her Mother, Lena, died in 1924, shortly after giving birth to Leslie, and Verna’s life was forever changed. She was an energetic little girl, who loved her teddy bears. Five years later her Father married Agnes Gollnick. Verna attended rural schools in the Butler area, and for a time lived in the Brokow Hotel in Bristol so she could attend school there. She graduated from Webster High School in 1937. July 4, 1942, she became engaged to Marlin Schmidt, and shortly thereafter he left to train and serve in WWII overseas. He returned in December, 1945, and they were married on December 20, 1945. To this Union 3 children were born in Peabody Hospital in Webster, Marilyn, Linda, and Howard. Marlin and Verna began their married life farming. During the years on the farm, Verna was a hard worker. She raised large gardens, canned, froze, and butchered much of the family food. She raised batches of 5000 chickens at a time, she bottle-fed orphaned baby calves (and named each one of them). She was also the bookkeeper for the farming business. Marlin and Verna farmed until 1970, when they sold the family farm and moved into Webster. As Marlin began other business ventures, she once again was the bookkeeper, cooked for all the workers, and was involved in the business. Throughout her married life, she served faithfully in the Webster United Methodist Church. She was a Sunday school teacher, Church Treasurer, served for Kiwanis, Women’s Circle leader, and many other places where she saw a need. Verna was a resident of Bethesda Home for the last several years. Verna passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on September 1, 2012 at the age of 92 years and 5 days. She is survived by her husband, Marlin, and her children: Marilyn Nelson, Webster, Linda Buchko, Rapid City, SD, and Howard (Joni) Schmidt, Loveland, Co. Her Grandchildren and Great-Grandchildren are: Lisa (Tim )Mawdsley and Alyssa, Grimes, IA; Dan (Liz) Buchko, Rapid City, SD; Chris Nelson, Whitewood, SD and his son, Stone; Becca Murray, and Taylor, Camden and Dylan, Redfield, SD; Matt Buchko, Rapid City, SD; Howie Schmidt, USD, Vermillion, SD. She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Kenneth who died in WWII, and her brother Leslie. In lieu of flowers the family requests all memorials be directed to: United Methodist Church c/o Book of Golden Memories fund 105 East 9th Ave Webster, SD 57274