James Allen Schmidt, 85, died Friday, March 20, 2020, at Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He was born on September 20, 1934, in Milbank, South Dakota, to Oscar and Irene (Mollberg) Schmidt.
Jim graduated from Garretson High School in 1952 and from Augustana College in 1956. He majored in English and went on to teach speech and literature in public education for 40 years. He began his career in Hull, Iowa, and then taught for 36 years in Jackson, Minnesota. Jim also was the first girls’ basketball coach in Jackson and coached golf for most years of his career. Teaching was not just a career for him but a passion. He loved his students and really enjoyed interacting with them. During the summers, Jim and a fellow teacher formed the Blue Jay Paint Company and painted many houses in Jackson.
Jim married the love of his life, Mary Lou Engebretson, on January 31, 1953. Together they raised five children. Following retirement, Jim and Mary Lou lived in Bella Vista, Arkansas, for twenty years. Jim was a man of great faith and lived out his belief in his everyday life. Wherever Jim lived, he was always very involved in his church by singing in the choir, serving on committees and church council, and participating in Bible studies. He also served as a Stephen Minister for many years. He always had a kind word for those around him.
Jim was a devoted father and husband which was most recently exemplified in his caring for Mary Lou as her dementia progressed. Even after Mary Lou moved into memory care, he continued to visit her daily and took great joy in seeing her smile and holding her hand.
Golf was always one of Jim’s recreational passions. Back in the late 1960s, with his brother and brother-in-law, they started an annual golf outing that evolved into a golfing family reunion called the SOS (Schmidt-Odney-Schmidt). This family tradition has grown as we added more members to our family. It continues to this day.
Survivors include his wife of 67 years, Mary Lou of Sioux Falls, SD; daughters, Rondi (Darrell) Shafer of Colorado Springs, CO, Nancy (John) Hodge of Lakewood, WA, Sandra (Larry) Schoenecker of New Prague, MN, Cathy (Joel) Halbritter of Willmar, MN, and son Joel (Amanda Raetzman) Schmidt. He is survived by nine grandchildren: Joshua Shafer, Beret Shafer, Krista Shafer, Samuel Hodge, Kelsey Hodge, Nicholas Schoenecker, Anna Carstensen, Andrew Halbritter, and Kaia Halbritter and two great-grandchildren, Joby and Crew. Also surviving is his brother Todd Schmidt.
Jim was preceded in death by his father (Oscar), mother (Irene), stepmother (Erma), and sister, Virginia Odney.
Memorial Service will be held at Peace Lutheran Church, Sioux Falls, SD at a later date.
For more information please visit www.MillerFH.com
