David Schmidt, 77, Belfield, died Saturday, June 16, 2018 surrounded by his family at home. David’s Mass of Christian Burial will be at 9 a.m., Thursday, June 21, 2018 at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church, with Fr. William Ruelle as the celebrant. Interment will take place at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan. Military Honors will be provided by the Belfield American Legion William C. Blair Post 144. Visitation will be 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Wednesday with a rosary & vigil at 7 p.m., at Ladbury Funeral Service. Visitation will continue one hour prior to services at the church.
Dave was born to John and Pauline (Miller) Schmidt on June 29, 1940 on the family farm southwest of South Heart. He was raised there and completed eight grades at St. Joseph’s Elementary School in Dickinson before serving in the United States Army from 1962 to 1964 and also the Reserves from 1964 to 1968. He began Basic Training at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., as a tractor scraper and construction machine operator. He served in Thailand next to the Cambodia border for one year, then reported to Fort Bragg Military Res. Fayetteville, N.C. He enjoyed his time in the service and was able to see many parts of the world while serving his country. He always said, “If you get the chance to travel, do it.”
On April 30, 1966, he married the love of his life Kathleen Vogel and they raised four children, Bonnie, Mike, Dana, and Lynn. Dave had a passion for work. He worked construction early on; helping build the I-94, Hwy 85, the Bowman Haley Dam, missile sites near Grand Forks and Langdon and numerous other projects in the area. They initially lived on the home place before buying a farm southwest of Belfield and farming near Prairie, S.D. Dave was well known for his mechanical and welding skills, which he passed down to his children and grandchildren. He created a successful trucking business that his wife and son Mike still operate.
Dave is survived by his wife, Kathy; children, Bonnie (Chris) Sperling, Williston, Michael (Melissa) Schmidt, Belfield, Dana (Kyle) Stahl, Fredericksburg, V.A., and Lynn (Tamie) Schmidt, Bismarck; grandchildren, Christy and Katie Sperling, Skylar, Gunnar, and Sidney Stahl, Jacob and Andrew Schmidt, and Mason Schmidt; brothers and sisters, Ann (Leonard) Buresh, Fargo, Elizabeth “Betty” Brinster, Portland, Ore., Rose (Antone) Wolf, Dickinson, Edward (Paulette) Schmidt, Dickinson, George (Regina) Schmidt, Belfield, Leona (Albert) Goldevsky, Dickinson, Magdalena (Dean) Oberlander, Gillette, Wyo., Leo M. (Margret) Schmidt, San Jose, Calif., and Edna (Robert) Privratsky, South Heart; sister-in-law, Jean Schmidt, Dickinson; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Frank A. and John J.; brother-in-law, Eugene Brinster, and nephews, Ed Brinster and David Wolf.
