Steven Schmidt

Steven H. Schmidt Jr. Steve Schmidt passed away on July 1 st , 2019 at Abbott Northwestern Hospital at 85 years of age. Steven Henry Elmer Schmidt Jr. was born the 2 nd month, 19 th day of 1934. His parents were Steven Sr. and Esther (Ristow) Schmidt.  He was born on a farm in Carver County, Camden Township, in Young America, MN. Steven was Baptized March 18, 1934 at Lester Prairie, MN.  Steven’s parents called him Sonny. They moved to Webster, WI in 1934 when Steven was an infant and his sister Ardena was 2 years old. They were brought up on a farm East of Webster.  Steven attended the Sand Lake Grade school.  Sand Lake school closed and he attended Mattson Grade School. Steven went to Webster High School but never graduated. Steven worked on their farm and also cut pulp for the state.  He left home when he was 16 and went to work for dairy farmers in Osceola, WI and Forest Lake, MN. Steve met his wife Doris McCarty at a dance in Hertel, WI.  They were married in the Methodist Church in Pine City, MN on July 11 th , 1953.  This July 11 th would have been 66 years of marriage. They lived on the farm in Forest Lake where Steve worked for a few months. Steve changed employers so they moved to a dairy farm in Osceola where they lived. Steve worked on the farm and his wife Doris worked for the Osceola Bakery. After a short time Steve went to work as a foreman at Thurnbeck Turkey Farms in Forest Lake. Steve’s family was supplied a nice two story house on the farm. Working 14 years on the turkey farm he wanted something different so the family moved to Rush City in 1969 where he was employed at Plastech Research. Steve and Doris rented a house in Rush City until finding a farm in Pine City in 1972.  Steve had dairy cows and did crop farming while working at General Safety Equipment in North Branch and Wyoming.  He wired the fire trucks. He retired from Custom Fire Apparatus in Osceola, WI in 1998 after having a heart attack. After retirement another farm was bought and a new house built and he cropped farm until 2019. Steve worked very hard all of his life.  He was a jack of all trades and a master of most. He was always there to help anyone in need. Steve did electric work, farming, welding,  construction and worked on all his own cars and machinery.  He enjoyed life, loved everyone. Steve enjoyed talking and had many friends, some from childhood. He loved to raise a garden including pumpkins and squash for the family. During his life he enjoyed hunting, fishing and water skiing. As he aged he liked to go to the casinos mostly for the food.  Steve truly enjoyed playing cards with his friends and family.  He was good at it and seemed to know what everyone had in their hands. Steve and Doris traveled to over twenty five states seeing many country western singers. His children Julie, Linda, and Steven, grandchildren and great grandchildren were all precious to him. Steve suffered many years with heart, kidney and cancer problems. He never complained and really felt bad when the family was needed to take him to his appointments as he had been so independent. He was a kidney dialysis patient for 8 years and 9 months going 3 days a week.  He dreaded it and said he had to treat it like a job he needed to go to. He is survived by his wife Doris, daughters Julie Ann Bodell of Rock Creek, MN, Linda Reiser of Cambridge, MN and son Steve R. Schmidt of Pine City. Grandchildren – Dustin (Sarah) Bodell of Rush City, MN, Cammi (Mark) Reike of Lawrenceville, GA. Amanda (Tait) Lillemoe of Bloomington, MN and Daniel (Amanda) Reiser of Cambridge, MN; 9 great grandchildren; Bryce, Morgan, Riley Bodell, Hunter Rieke; Philomena, Lucia and Anna Reiser, Ozzie and Albina Lillemoe. Also survived by sister, Ardena Harle, Jim Harle (Jody) Harle and family of New Richmond, WI;  aunt Luella Ristow, Young America, MN; sister in laws, Jean Marion Siren WI, Irene Orton Lindstrom, MN; along with many nieces, nephews and cousins. Preceded in death by his parents, Mother & Father in law,Pete and Laura McCarty; brothers in laws, Ray Harle, Lauren Orton (best friend), Robert Marion, Henry (Ruth) McCarty and Claude McCarty. Pallbearers – Dustin Bodell, Bryce Bodell, Daniel Reiser, Jim Harle, Bill Marion and David Orton. Honorary Pallbarers – Don Rothenbacher, Kenny Robinson, Jim Sward, Clinton Teich an Michael Hejny. Funeral services will be Friday, July 5, 2019 at 11:00 AM (visitation 10-11 AM) at Swedberg-Taylor Funeral Home, Webster with Pastor Eddie Crise officiating.  Interment will follow at Lakeview Hertel Cemetery.  A visitation will be Thursday, July 4, 2019 from 4-6 PM at Swedberg-Taylor Funeral Home, Webster.