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A Celebration of Life Service for Betty J. Schmidt, 84, of Fairmont, Minn., formerly of Early, will be at 11 a.m. on Sunday, March 2, at the Lakeview Funeral Home in Fairmont. A graveside service will be held at a later date in Early Union Cemetery in Early. Visitation will be one hour prior to the time of service from 10-11 a.m. at Lakeview Funeral Home in Fairmont.
Betty passed away Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025, at her home in Fairmont. The Lakeview Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Fairmont is assisting the family with arrangements.
Betty Joyce (Mansfield) Schmidt was born Oct. 25, 1940, in a sod home near Wanamaker in Bennett County, S.D., the daughter of Dale L. and Helen E. (Blakenfeld) Mansfield. As a young girl, Betty braved the harsh weather of the plains until moving with her family to a farm near Quimby. Betty attended school in Quimby and graduated from Quimby High School with the class of 1959.
While in high school, Betty met Darwin “Butch” Schmidt. The couple quickly hit it off and soon Darwin was showing up to help Betty with chores so he could take her out. On May 31, 1959, Betty was united in marriage to Darwin D. Schmidt at United Methodist Church in Quimby. The couple was blessed with five children: Tonia, Roxanne, Robert, Todd and Jodie. The family made their home in rural Cherokee County and Buena Vista County, before purchasing their home in Early, where they lived until 2020. Betty and Darwin then made the move to Fairmont, Minn., due to health issues.
Growing up on the farm, Betty had an appreciation for hard work and took great pride in a task completed. She worked for IPS, now MidAmerican Energy, the Pilot Tribune, Walmart, the Times, The Early News and Faith, Hope and Charity in Storm Lake, before retiring on April 1, 2013.
Betty was an incredibly talented artist and found great joy sitting in front of a canvas, bringing her paintings to life with the stroke of her brush. Her paintings found a home on old, rusted shovels, antique hand saws and even fungus from trees. When her children were young, Betty was active as a Girl Scout Leader, Cub Scout Mother and Rainbow Mother. Her faith was her foundation and she enjoyed sharing her faith story and lifting up others in prayer. Betty was a long-time member of United Methodist Church in Early where she served as a Sunday School teacher, vacation bible school teacher and was willing to help wherever she was needed. Betty was instrumental in helping to create the Prayer Garden at the church and found peace in her own time of prayer and reflection there. Betty was also a member of 2-4 Club, Order of Eastern Star,and humbly found a new faith journey during the Walk to Emmaus.
If faith was her foundation, family was her cornerstone, and Betty loved her family. She looked forward to family reunions in the summer and trips to visit her children, grandchildren and siblings. Her home was always open and when you arrived, it was normal to smell the aroma of fresh baked bread, caramel rolls or some other wonderful baked treat. She enjoyed working in her garden alongside Darwin and had many flower beds around her home adorned with homemade birdhouses that she tended to. Betty had an infectious laugh and smile that could brighten any room.
Left to cherish her memory is her husband,of 65 years, Darwin “Butch” Schmidt; children: Tonia (Bob) Toomer, Robert (Sandy) Schmidt, Todd (Kristen) Schmidt and Jodie Schmidt; grandchildren: Chris (Jenn) Toomer, Beth (Abby Goodenow) Toomer, Jeff (Brandy) Toomer, Megan Schmidt, Michaela (Blake) Parkison, Michael (Emma) Schmidt, Matthew Schmidt and Emma Schmidt; great-grandchildren: Carson (Andrea Westcott) Toomer, Hadan (Allison Janssen) Toomer, Mckenzie Toomer, LeeRoy Toomer, Haylee Toomer, Brooks Schmidt, Ozzy Schmidt and Clara Schmidt; siblings, Audrey Neifer and Richard (Linda) Mansfield; two sisters-in-law, Fayola Mansfield and Anita Mansfield; as well as many nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.
Betty was preceded in death by her parents, Dale and Helen Mansfield; infant daughter Roxanne Joy Schmidt; mother-in-law and father-in-law, William and Emma Schmidt; siblings and spouses: Jean (Wayne) Ireland, Jim Mansfield, Keith (Alice) Mansfield, Harry Mansfield, Virginia (Tom) Gagnon, Linda (Ray) Flewelling, Gail Reinert and Judy (Edward) Gross; brothers-in-law and spouses: Norman (Leona) Schmidt, Darrell (Marge) Schmidt, Kenneth Schmidt and Gayland Schmidt; as well as other family.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made in Betty’s name to go towards art supplies for elementary students.
