Steven Schmidt

Steven ‘Schmidty’ A.

Schmidt, 57, Berthold,

formerly of Niagara, ND,

passed away unexpected-

ly from an unknown heart

condition, on April 8,

2017 in Orr, MN.

Steven A. Schmidt was

born on December 31,

1959 in Michigan, ND to

Lloyd and Dellene (Krooc-

mo) Schmidt. He was

raised on a farm in rural

Niagara, ND and graduat-

ed from Petersburg High

School in 1978. He com-

pleted diesel mechanic

training in Wahpeton at

the North Dakota State

School of Science in 1980.

Steven was united in

marriage to Michele Knut-

son on January 23, 1981 at

St. Andrew Lutheran

Church in Niagara, ND.

This union was blessed

with a daughter, April and

a son, Dustin. They made

their home in Berthold,

ND since their marriage.

Schmidty found his

niche quickly in the

mechanic industry during

his employment with

Green Power Equipment

in Berthold. He also held

a mechanic position at

Gratech and was a truck

driver for Triple N Tran-

sport over the years. He

followed his dream in

2002 when he purchased

a service truck and started

Steve’s Diesel Repair, Inc.

He worked on heavy con-

struction equipment,

which he knew best and

loved the challenges of

tearing down those large

machines and putting

them back together. While

in business on his own,

Steve worked with KGM

Contractor’s throughout

the MN region. He decid-

ed to take a break from

“pulling wrenches” as he

called it, in the construc-

tion business and began

working for Morris Indus-

tries, stationed in Canada.

Later he decided to return

to his comfort zone of

working on large equip-

ment and began working

with Arnt Construction in

the McGregor, ND area

during the oil boom. Dur-

ing that time he loved liv-

ing in his camper on the

farm near his friends and

coworkers. After the oil

boom slowed down, he re-

turned to MN to work

with KGM Contractor’s.

Steve was a member of

Zion Lutheran Church,

Berthold. He especially

enjoyed gardening, fishing

and camping. One of his

favorite possessions was

his 1973 Chevy Nova,

which he and Dustin re-

stored during Dustin’s

high school years. Ski

trips to Big Sky Montana

during spring break were

a family tradition until

2004, when they traveled

to Daytona for NASCAR

Speedweeks, now the

traditional family trip.

‘Howdy’ was his standard

greeting to a friend or a

stranger and everyone

who knew him has seen

his hands flap at a time of

excitement. He will be

missed by all who shared

in his life and missed

most by those who called

him husband, dad, son,

and brother.

Steve’s loving family

includes: his wife of 36

years: Michele Schmidt,

Berthold; daughter, April

(Troy Reimche) Schmidt,

Fargo; son, Dustin

Schmidt, Horace, ND; fa-

ther, Lloyd and stepmom,

Dorcas Schmidt, Oslo,

MN; brothers, David

(Kim) Schmidt and Virgil

(Amy) Schmidt, both of

Grand Forks;

mother-in-law, Alice

Knutson, Dauphin, Mani-

toba; brother-in-law, Peter

(Paula) Knutson, Dau-

phin, Manitoba;

sisters-in-law, Kathy Mor-

ten, Lakota, ND and Cindy

Strand, Mohall, ND;

numerous nieces,

nephews and step siblings

and his beloved cat, JoJo

“the Panther” as he called

him.

Steve was preceded in

death by: his mother, Del-

lene; brother, Darrin;

father-in-law, Richard

Knutson and

brothers-in-law, Kirk Mor-

ten and Kenny Strand.

Funeral Service: 11:00

a.m. on Friday, April 14,

2017 at Zion Lutheran

Church, Berthold.

Interment: St. Andrew

Cemetery, Niagara later in

the spring.

Visitation: Thursday,

April 13, 2017 from 4:00

p.m. until 7:00 p.m. in

Thomas Family Funeral

Home, Minot.

Memorials are preferred

to the American Heart As-

sociation or the Multiple

Sclerosis Foundation.

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.