Wilma Schmidt
North Newton - Wilma Schmidt, 91,
passed away peacefully surrounded by family at her home at Kidron
Bethel Village in North Newton on Saturday, July 31, 2021. She was
born on August 20, 1929, in Goessel, the second of six children of
David F. and Mary Flaming Voth.
Wilma attended Heimbaugh Grade School
and Goessel High School. Not having a car, she and her siblings
rented a room with a family in Goessel to attend school and went home
on weekends. After graduation in 1947, Wilma spent the summer as a
live-in childcare provider for the Rex Moody family in Newton, then
worked as a typesetter at Mennonite Press.
Wilma's life changed after receiving a
letter from Alvin T. Schmidt of rural Walton, asking her for a date
to the state fair. Wilma married Alvin on December 20, 1952, at Tabor
Mennonite Church. Together they raised four children on a dairy farm.
They celebrated 66 years of marriage on Dec. 20, 2018.
Wilma was baptized upon her confession
of faith on June 9, 1946 by Rev. H. B. Schmidt and became a life-long
member of Tabor Mennonite Church. She taught children's Sunday School
and Vacation Bible School, served on Willing Helpers Sewing Circle
and Peace and Social Concerns Committee, and formed lasting
relationships as a youth mentor. Wilma lived her faith, radiating
love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, faithfulness,
gentleness, and self-control.
Whether in baking, sewing, growing and
arranging flowers, painting, piecing quilts, or making fabric art
with nature themes, Wilma was a creative artist. Together with
another couple, she and Alvin became co-owners of The Quilt Shop in
North Newton, where Wilma loved helping customers with their
projects. She designed and sold original patterns as Rose Brier
Creations. She always liked to have at least one creative project
going, making quilts and wall hangings for friends, gifts, and the
MCC sale.
Wilma is survived by her four children:
Christine Schmidt of Vernon, British Columbia; Linda Schmidt of
Kimberling City, Missouri; Elizabeth Schmidt (Greg Nye) of North
Newton; and Emil Schmidt (Vickie) of rural Walton; and grandchildren
Lucas Wiebe (Jill Worboys) of Coldstream, British Columbia; Patrick
Wiebe of Acapulco, Mexico; Toban Wiebe (Daweon Ryu) of Johnson City,
Tennessee; and Michael Wiebe (Laura Kwun) of Vancouver, British
Columbia; sisters Hulda Schrag (John) and Darlene Schroeder;
brother-in-law Milton Duerksen; and brother Elmer (Lynne ) Voth.
Wilma was preceded in death by her
husband Alvin and grandson Nathan Aaron Schmidt; her parents; and
sisters Esther Unruh, Alice Duerksen, and infant sister Betty.
A Celebration of Life service will be
held on Sunday, August 22, 2021, at 3 p.m. at Tabor Mennonite Church,
891 Chisholm Trail Rd., Newton (rural Marion County). Please wear
masks.
Memorial gifts may be made to Tabor
Mennonite Church, MCC, and Kansas Mennonite Relief Sale (KMRS) in
care of Miller-Ott Funeral Home, PO Box 32, Hesston, KS 67062.
