Lydia Schmitt

Lydia Maria Schmitt, 85, Bismarck, died June 3, 2008. Services will be held at 11:00 am Friday at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Bismarck with Rev. Robert Lynne officiating. Graveside services will be at 3:00 pm CST 2:00 pm MST in Sunnyslope Cemetery, Mott. Visitation will be held from 9:00 am until 9:00 pm Thursday at Eastgate Funeral Service, Bismarck and will continue one hour prior to services at the church. Lydia was born February 9, 1923, to Jacob and Albina Bertsch Schmitt on the farmstead nine miles SE of Regent. She was baptized and confirmed at Christ Lutheran Church in Mott; attended rural school in Chilton Township and graduated from Mott Lincoln High School in 1942. Lydia entered nurses training at the Bismarck Hospital now Medcenter One and, as a student, joined the Nurses Cadet Corp but did not serve in the military as World War II ended before she graduated as a registered nurse in 1946. Her career of 40 years included Hospital Nursing on medical/surgical floors at St. Luke's Hospital in Fargo, the Jamestown Hospital and for many years at Medcenter One in Bismarck. A favorite position was that of Head Nurse at the Crippled Children's School now the Anne Carlsen Center in Jamestown for seven years. She also worked at a Pediatric Clinic in Jamestown several years and as a Public Health Nurse in Bismarck for three years. While a student at the Lutheran Bible Institute in Minneapolis, she worked part-time at the Sister Kenny Institute which was well known for its work with Polio patients in the 1950s. During her last position at Medcenter One she was more involved with the terminally ill and their families which she regarded as a valuable experience and a special opportunity to serve others. During this time, she attended the University of Mary part-time. She retired in 1985. Lydia enjoyed many hobbies. One of them was painting. She entered local art shows and was especially pleased when two of her oil paintings were chosen to hang in the State Treasurer's office. She played the guitar and enjoyed being part of a trio for many years in Jamestown as well as singing in the church choir. Later, the autoharp became her favorite instrument. Her greatest joy was involvement with church activities. Lydia is survived by her brother, Rev. Otto LaVerne Schmitt of Fargo, ND; two sisters, Emma Kamka and Ida Schmitt both of Bismarck, ND; sister-in-law, Leona Schmitt of Bismarck, ND; 18 nieces and nephews and many grand and great-grand nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; four sisters, Alma Erlenbusch, Clara Oberlander, Martha Frisvold and Esther Schmitt; one brother, Emanuel and two infant siblings, Henry and Eva. For those desiring to give memorial gifts, Lydia's interests suggest: Medcenter One School of Nursing Scholarship Fund, Bismarck Public Library and Bishop Lynne Scholarship Fund at Wartburg Seminary, Dubuque, IA.

Lydia Schmitt

February 9, 1923 - June 3, 2008