Mary P. Schmidt, 88, Dickinson, died Saturday, September 13, 2014 at the St. Luke’s Home, Dickinson. Mary’s Mass of Christian Burial will be at 9:30 a.m., Thursday, September 18, 2014 at Queen of Peace Catholic Church, Dickinson, with Fr. Shannon Lucht as the celebrant. Interment will follow at St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Dickinson. Visitation will be on Wednesday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., with a rosary & vigil at 7 p.m., with Deacon Ron Wolberg presiding at Ladbury Funeral Service, Dickinson. Visitation will continue on Thursday at the church from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
Mary Pauline Raab was born 12 miles southwest of Dickinson, on March 19, 1926, the youngest of 11 children born to Mike and Susanna (Walery) Raab, Sr. She attended rural elementary school at Shipley #2, where she completed the 8th grade. One fond memory of her childhood was her old saddle horse named, Babe, who she rode to get the milk cows.
Mary met Louie Schmidt at the Bagdad Dance Pavilion in Dickinson in the Fall of 1944. on June 27, 1946, they were married at St. Elizabeth’s Catholic Church, Lefor. To this union were born Kenneth, Gary, Dennis, and Mary Sue. They moved to Yakima, Wash., for several years, where Mary worked at a fruit warehouse. They returned to North Dakota and in 1954 moved to the John Kempf farm 18 miles southeast of Dickinson. They were engaged in farming and ranching for 43 years. She got a lot of practice and became an excellent cook and baker. She always raised a large garden and prepared many healthy meals for her family and friends. She also enjoyed growing her flowers and raising farm animals, especially the kittens and chickens.
She and Louie retired into Dickinson in 1995, and celebrated 65 years of marriage together. Mary was a member of the Eagles Auxiliary, German Hungarian Club, St. Joseph’s and then Queen of Peace Church. She enjoyed dancing, traveling, bowling, and playing cards.
Mary is survived by three children, Gary Schmidt, Dickinson, Dennis Schmidt, Dickinson, and Mary Sue (Paul) Jesperson, Mott; daughter-in-law, Diana (Schmidt) Hilden, Billings, Mont.; 11 grandchildren, Aaron (Jeanine) Schmidt, Anita (Phillip) Amann, Amy Olheiser, Andrew (Char) Schmidt, Chad (Patty) Schmidt, Kimberly (Alan) Kohl, Megan Schmidt, Jarad Schmidt, MaRanda (Orrin) Hardmeyer, Breckon (Amy) Jesperson, and Devon Jesperson; 18 great-grandchildren; sister, Ann Weiler, Fruita, Colo.; sister-in-law, Katherine Harrington, Dickinson; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Louie on August 24, 2011; parents; son, Kenneth; grandson, Keith Olheiser; great-grandson, Zachary Amann; brothers and sisters-in-law, Adam (Theresa) Raab, Mike (Suzanna) Raab, Steve Raab, and Pete (Rose) Raab; sisters and brothers-in-law, Margaret (Christ) Anton, Kathryn (Pete), Schmidt, and John Weiler; and three infant sisters, Barbara, Emma and Marie.
