Elda Schmidt
1921 - 2018
Obituary
Elda R. (Fast) Schmidt, 97, died Friday
(July 6, 2018) at Kidron Bethel Village in North Newton.
Elda was born April 14, 1921, in
Goessel to Peter B. and Lena (Helena Balzer) Fast. Her paternal
grandparents were Isaac Fast and Susanna (Wedel) Fast and her
maternal grandparents were Peter Balzer and Maria (Schmidt) Balzer.
She grew up on her family's farm southwest of Goessel. Her mother
always had a large garden and Elda helped with the gardening, chores
and harvesting. She attended Goessel Mennonite Church and was
baptized by Rev. Peter P Buller. She enjoyed Sunday School, singing
in the choir, and singing together with family around the piano. Elda
attended Gordon Grade School and graduated from Goessel High School
in 1941. She was always grateful for her heritage, her home life and
Christian parents who had regular family devotions and prayer.
Later Elda did a lot of house work,
kitchen and floor work at Bethel Deaconess Hospital and took a nurse
aide training course. Feeling that "something was missing from
her life," she moved to Denver, Colorado, with her sister Ruth
(Fast) Reather. In Denver Elda attended Bon Ton Beauty School and
graduated in 1957.
After working as a beautician in
Colorado for nine years, she moved back to Kansas and worked in
several local beauty shops. Her father passed away at age 83, the
winter she returned (1966) to Kansas. Her mother passed away in 1972
at the age of 88. Later, Elda opened her own beauty shop in downtown
Newton. She always enjoyed her customers company throughout the
years. In 2008, she celebrated 50 years as a beautician. During that
time she belonged to the American Business Women's Association in
Newton, was Care Coordinator for her Sunday School Class, and also
joined various tour groups for travels around the country.
Elda met David T. Schmidt in 1969 after
he wrote her a letter saying he would like to meet her. David and
Elda were married on June 30, 1970, in the First Mennonite Church,
Newton. Elda was very grateful that David's sons, Donald and Lewis,
their wives Marlene and Dorothy and children and grandchildren
accepted her as a member of their extended family. David and Elda
enjoyed fishing and traveling together until his cancer recurred,
which made traveling more difficult. David Schmidt died May 16, 1973,
at the age of 62.
Elda eventually ran her beauty shop in
her own home. After 20 years she moved to Kidron-Bethel Village where
she retired from working as a beautician. During her life she enjoyed
family and friends, traveling, playing the piano, gardening, flowers,
making quilts and knotting comforts, embroidery, reading,
paint-by-number and the recent trend of adult coloring books.
Elda was preceded in death by her
parents, her husband David T. Schmidt, her brothers Anton (Betty),
Arnold (Elsie), Marvin, Irvin, her sisters Linda (Gus) Frey and Adina
(Roy) Schmidt.
Survivors include her step-sons Donald
L. and wife (Marlene, d) Schmidt, Lewis and wife Dorothy Schmidt, her
brother Orlando Fast (Maxine, d) and sister Ruth (Howard Reather, d)
Fast. Elda is also survived by seven grandchildren: Michael, Gregory,
Lori, Steve (Lynn), Brian, Daryn (Deidre), Lisa (Carl) and twelve
great-grandchildren: Ryan, Austin, Evan, Collin, Landon, Savanna,
Leah, Dara, Halle, Malia, Breslin, and Mira, as well as many nieces
and nephews.
Graveside committal service will be 3
p.m., Tuesday (July 10, 2018) at Goessel Mennonite Church Cemetery in
Goessel. A memorial service will be 4 p.m., Tuesday at First
Mennonite Church in Newton with Pastor Kay Schroeder presiding.
Visitation will be 5 to 9 p.m. Monday at Petersen Funeral Home with
the family receiving friends from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Petersen
Funeral Home.
Memorials are suggested to First
Mennonite Church Hymnal Fund or Kidron Bethel Benevolent fund in care
of Petersen Funeral Home.
The Lord has been good to me. Don't
grieve when I'm gone, because I want to sing praises to Him. Elda
Schmidt, Aug. 30, 2010.
