Roland Schmidt
Obituary
Roland Albert Schmidt, born Dec. 7,
1920, in Great Bend to Samuel J. and Katharine (Schroeder) Schmidt,
died Saturday (April 13, 2019) at Kidron-Bethel Village, Newton. He
was the 10th living child of 13. Roland's father died when Roland was
4 years old.
Roland attended an elementary, one-room
country school for seven years; Pawnee Rock High school for four
years; Oklahoma Bible Academy for one year; and Bethel College for
four years, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in biology. He
intended to become a medical technologist but he was needed to run
the family farm since his older brothers had been drafted into
military service. During his freshman year at Bethel, he met Ethel
Richert. He and Ethel were married the day after college graduation
and immediately moved to the farm.
Roland and Ethel lived on the farm for
47 years and reared their five children there. While on the farm,
they became very involved in the Bergthal Mennonite Church and the
larger community. Roland served as a Deacon in the church, a school
board member, a 4-H Fair Board member and leader and in many other
roles. He put his education to work as a leader in innovative farming
and conservation, which won him awards.
Roland and Ethel moved to Kidron-Bethel
Village in North Newton in 1989. They became members of Bethel
College Mennonite Church. Roland served on the Kidron-Bethel Board,
volunteered at Bethel College, Kauffman Museum and the Sand Creek
Trail. Golfing was an activity Roland greatly enjoyed with his
friends for many years.
Family was very important to Roland. He
enjoyed attending sports activities and other events at Bethel,
especially those involving his children, grandchildren and
great-grandchildren. He developed a special relationship with his
grandchildren and great-grandchildren, forming a precious bond that
will impact them for the rest of their lives. Despite his 98-year-old
weary body, he was always delighted to attend a family gathering or
dine out with a family member.
Roland was preceded in death by his
wife, Ethel, in 2009; his parents; six sisters; and six brothers.
He is survived by his sons, David
(Rita) of Wichita, Steve (Wanda) of Newton and Don (Debbie) of
Newton; daughters, Meribeth (Bruce) Buhr of Wichita and Susan (Joel)
Grasse of Rogers, Arkansas; 11 grandchildren; and 18
great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 11
a.m. Saturday, April 27, 2019, at Bethel College Mennonite Church.
Visitation with family present will be 6:30 to 8 p.m. Friday, April
26, 2019, at Menno Hall, Kidron-Bethel Village. Burial will be at 4
p.m. Sunday, April 28, 2019, at Bergthal Mennonite Church Cemetery,
near Pawnee Rock.
Memorials may be sent to Bethel
College.
