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Melvin Schmidt

May 1, 1924-Feb. 10, 2017

Melvin Walter Schmidt,

92, Minot and formerly of

Martin, died on Friday,

February 10, 2017, in a

Minot healthcare center.

Melvin was born on

May 1, 1924, on a farm

near Martin, ND, to Emil

and Lydia (Dockter)

Schmidt. He was reared

on the family farm and at-

tended school in Martin.

Melvin graduated from

Martin High School in

1944 and continued his

education at the Minot

Business College, where

he received specialized

training in business relat-

ed subjects.

Mel entered the U.S.

Army on October 23,

1944, at Fort Snelling, MN

and served with the 27th

Infantry Regiment of the

25th Infantry Division un-

til honorably discharged

as a Staff Sergeant on No-

vember 23, 1946, at Fort

Lewis, WA. His military

service included partici-

pation in the Philippine

Campaign (Luzon) and the

occupation of Japan. He

earned the Combat Infan-

tryman Badge and several

other service awards and

medals.

Mel married Gloria Rust

on June 13, 1948, in

Anamoose, ND. They

made their home in

Anamoose prior to mov-

ing to Minot in 1950,

where Mel was employed

by Northern States Power

(NSP) Telephone Com-

pany. Mel retired as Tele-

phone Installation Super-

intendent in 1986. Gloria

died on October 23, 2000.

Mel was proud to be

named Outstanding Play-

er of the 1948 Cathay

Gold Medal basketball

tournament. He was the

last surviving charter

member of Immanuel

Baptist Church and a

member of the Minot Cur-

ling Club. Mel was a

member of the two-time

North Dakota senior state

championship curling

team. He served on the

board of directors of the

Tel-U-Watt Federal Credit

Union for 51 years. In ad-

dition to curling he espe-

cially enjoyed visiting

friends and family, read-

ing and church activities.

Mel has a multitude of

friends in San Antonio,

TX. His travels took him

to Mexico, Guatemala,

and Belize. His warmth

and good humor are

legendary. Mel is beloved

and will be dearly missed

by many.

Mel’s loving family in-

cludes his children:

Timothy (Jan) Schmidt of

Frisco, TX, David (Mimi)

Schmidt of San Antonio

TX, Daniel (Peggy)

Schmidt of Bismarck,

Karen Schmidt of St.

Joseph MO, and Randy

Schmidt of Minot; eleven

grandchildren: Andrea,

Brian, Catarina, Santiago,

Kelsi, Libby, Jamie, Emma

Gossett, R. Charles Gos-

sett, Tommy, and Kelli;

great-grandchildren: Evan,

Carson, Nathan, Emerson,

Rita, Tommy, Adison,

Mackenzie, and Jackson;

brother: Leroy Schmidt of

Minot; and numerous

nieces, nephews and

cousins.

Mel was preceded in

death by his parents, wife

and brothers: Emery, El-

mer, Raymond, Leo, Ar-

nold and Dale.

Celebration of the Life

of Mel Schmidt: Tuesday,

February 14, 2017, at 2:00

p.m. in Immanuel Baptist

Church, Minot.

Interment will be in

Rosehill Memorial Park,

Minot.

Visitation: Monday

from 3:00 p.m. until 6:00

p.m. in Immanuel Baptist

Church.

Memorials are pre-

ferred to Immanuel Bap-

tist Church in lieu of

flowers.

Those wishing to sign

the online memorial regis-

ter or share memories and

condolences are invited to

use the expressions of

sympathy section at

www.thomasfamily

funeralhome.com.

(Thomas Family Fun-

eral Home, Minot)