Henry Ernest Schmidt

Postponed with new day

  Funeral services will be on Wednesday, December 28, 2022, at the First Reformed Church in Slayton at 11:00 a.m.   Visitation will be one hour prior to the services at the church on Wednesday. 

In Loving Memory of

Henry Ernest Schmidt

Henry Ernest Schmidt was born on January 7, 1929, in Moulton township, near Chandler, MN to Ernest Henry and Emma Zeylamaker Schmidt. He grew up in southwest Minnesota and Northwest Iowa area. Henry graduated from Pipestone County Rural School then lived and worked with Uncle John Van Beek up to and after he was married to Harriet Joyce Kruisselbrink on October 6, 1948. They farmed in the Woodstock area until January of 1953 and sold out to buy a mobile mill grinder. They moved to Ruthton and began building the grinder business. In the first few years while building the grinder business, Henry made deliveries to people in the area for Mr. Olsen the Dra-man. In 1960 they bought a new mobile mill manufactured in Ames, Iowa. Henry continued running the grinder until 1971 when respiratory issues forced him to sell. He started working in the office for Ken Knuth at Finley Engineering and later transferred to field engineering at Finley obtaining a realtor’s license to do right of way easement work and fiber optic construction management. Henry worked for Finley for 27 years on various network projects throughout the United States retiring from full-time in 1993 but continued part-time until 1998.  Henry made his commitment to Christ at age 10 at a tent revival meeting. He was an active member of the Reformed Church in America (RCA) as a Sunday School Teacher, a Deacon and Elder on the church boards at the Reformed Church first in Woodstock and later at Slayton. Henry was a strong man of faith, humility, and integrity, and much more. A wonderful husband, giving father, beloved grandfather, and leader of his family. He enjoyed many activities in his youth, was a talented proficient do-it-yourselfer at home and helped many family members and neighbors. Henry loved to sing and was part of the Gospelaires quartet for 30 years.  Henry passed away at Sterling Point Senior Living in Princeton, MN on Wednesday, December 14, 2022, at the age of 93.

Survivors include five children and their spouses, Gary and Tammy Schmidt of Grasston, MN, Wanda and Steve Hourscht of Big Lake, MN, Glenda Schmidt Kimpling of Ramsey, MN, Terry and Ruth Schmidt of Katy, TX, and Kevin and Kim Schmidt of Faribault, MN, 13 grandchildren, Linnea and Darrin Lund, Kenneth and Mackenzie Hoffman, Dennis Hoffman and Carla and Brandon Jansen, Christy and Mark Dougherty, Stephanie and AJ Earleywine, Meghan and Josh Orness, Sarah and Jacob Gradén, Matthew and Hailey Schmidt, Jason and Breanna Schmidt, Amber and Cory Madrid, Kara and Blade Burch Jaimie and Nate Olson, and fourteen great grandchildren, one brother Roger Evan Schmidt and wife June of South Weber, UT, one sister Joy Bakker and husband Arnold of Las Vegas, NV, two sisters-in-laws Audrene Schmidt of Fullerton, CA, and Becky Schmidt of Marysville, CA; He is preceded in death by his wife Harriet Joyce Schmidt of 71 years, his parents Henry and Emma Schmidt, four sisters Bernice Idsinga and husband Pete, Arlene Vleiger and husband Nels, Florence Lichtenstein and husband Archie, Joan Johnson and husband Ray, and three brothers, Lloyd, Robert and Donald.

Funeral Services

First Reformed Church in Slayton, MN on Wednesday, December 28, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. with Rev. Aaron Punt officiating. The pallbearers are his grandchildren. Interment is at Woodstock Cemetery in Woodstock, MN.

The family would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

Visitation will be one hour prior to the services at the church on Wednesday.  Totzke Funeral Home of Slayton is entrusted with arrangements.  To view online obituary and send condolences visit totzkefuneralhome.com

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